HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language for creating web pages, defining the structure and content of web content. It uses tags to mark up text, images, and other elements, telling browsers how to display them.
What it is:
HTML is a markup language, not a programming language, meaning it uses tags to define the structure and content of a web page.
How it works:
- Web browsers read HTML code and render it into a visual layout.
- The HTML document is structured with elements (e.g., headings, paragraphs, links, images).
- These elements are defined by tags, which are enclosed in angle brackets (e.g., <p>, <h1>, <a>).
- Tags can have attributes that provide additional information about the element (e.g., src for an image, href for a link).
Basic HTML Elements:
Document Structure:
- <!DOCTYPE html>: Specifies the document type as HTML5.
- <html>: The root element of the page.
- <head>: Contains metadata about the page (e.g., title, character set).
- <body>: Contains the visible content of the page.
Content Elements:
- <h1> to <h6>: Headings.
- <p>: Paragraphs.
- <a>: Links.
- <img>: Images.
- <ul> and <ol>: Unordered and ordered lists.
- <li>: List items.
- <table>, <tr>, <th>, <td>: Tables.
Why it’s important:
- HTML is the foundation of every webpage, defining the structure and content that users see.
- It’s essential for accessibility, search engine optimization, and making use of the built-in features browsers provide.
HTML is often used with other technologies:
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling.
- JavaScript for adding interactivity and dynamic content.
