HTML, or Hyper Text Markup Language, is the foundational language for creating web pages. It's not a programming language, but rather a markup language that structures the content of a webpage. This structure is what browsers use to display the content you see.
How HTML Works
HTML uses a series of elements, which are like building blocks. These elements are written using tags, which are enclosed in angle brackets, like <p> for a paragraph or <h1> for a main heading.
HTML Structure Example
Here's a basic example:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My Webpage</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Page</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>
</body>
</html>Key HTML Concepts
- Elements: Fundamental building blocks of HTML. Example:
<p>,<div>,<img>. - Tags: Used to denote HTML elements. Most come in pairs: opening and closing (e.g.,
<p>...</p>). - Attributes: Provide additional information about elements. They are placed inside the opening tag (e.g.,
<img src="image.jpg" alt="My Image">). - Structure: HTML defines the skeleton of a page, giving it structure and organization.
HTML's Role in Web Development
HTML is essential for every webpage. It is what the browser reads to understand the text, images, and other elements to display to a user. It works alongside other technologies like CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactivity.
Key Uses of HTML
- Structuring content: Defining headings, paragraphs, lists, and other elements.
- Linking pages: Creating hyperlinks to navigate between pages.
- Embedding multimedia: Adding images, videos, and audio to pages.
- Creating forms: Building input fields for user interaction.
HTML and Browsers
Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari read HTML code and turn it into the visual webpage you see. They interpret the HTML tags to display content, follow links, and execute other elements of the page.
In Summary
HTML is the standard language that provides the structural framework for web pages. It is essential for organizing and displaying content, and it works hand-in-hand with other web technologies to create a complete user experience.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hyper Text Markup Language |
| Purpose | To define the structure and content of web pages |
| Key Concepts | Elements, tags, attributes, page structure |
| Functionality | Used by browsers to display text, images, links, and other content |
| Relationship | Works with CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactivity |
