HTML Introduction

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to create web pages. It provides the structure for web pages by defining HTML elements such as headings, paragraphs, links, images, etc. HTML is a foundational technology for web development. It works with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript to create fully functional websites and web applications.

Simple HTML Document (HTML Page Structure)

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<head>
    <title>Page Title</title>
</head>

<body>
    <h1>Page Heading</h1>
    <p>Paragraph contents</p>
</body>

</html>

HTML Document Explanations

  • <!DOCTYPE html>: Declares the document type and version of HTML.
  • <html>: The root element.
  • <head>: Contains meta-information like the title and links to stylesheets.
  • <title>: Sets the page title.
  • <body>: Contains the visible content of the page.
  • <h2>: Defines heading (large heading) of the page.
  • <p>: Defines the paragraph content of the page.

Web Browsers

The web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, …etc.) are used to display the HTML content. The web browsers does not display the tags, it only display the content to the tag in structured format.

Code Output Image

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HTML Elements and Tags

HTML documents are composed of elements, which are defined by tags. Tags are enclosed in angle brackets (< >). There are two types of tags:

  • Opening and Closing Tags: Most HTML elements have an opening tag (<tagname>) and a closing tag (</tagname>). For example, a paragraph is defined by <p> and </p>.
  • Self-closing Tags: Some elements do not have a closing tag and are self-closing, such as the image tag (<img />).

Features of HTML

  • Simplicity: HTML is easy to learn and use, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Flexibility: It allows for the creation of complex documents with multimedia content.
  • Platform Independence: HTML can be used on any platform that has a web browser.
  • Compatibility: HTML works with other technologies like CSS and JavaScript to create dynamic and visually appealing web pages.
  • Hyperlinking: HTML supports hyperlinks, allowing for easy navigation between different web pages.
  • Multimedia Support: HTML can embed images, videos, audio, and other multimedia content.
  • Extensibility: HTML can be extended through the use of plugins and custom tags.

Why Learn HTML?

  • Foundation of Web Development: HTML is the core language for creating web pages and it is essential for web development.
  • Career Opportunities: Proficiency in HTML is a valuable skill in the tech industry, opening doors to various job roles.
  • Ease of Learning: HTML is easy to learn, making it an excellent starting point for beginners.
  • Versatility: HTML is used in various applications, from web development to email formatting.
  • Enhances Digital Literacy: Understanding HTML improves overall digital literacy and the ability to interact with technology.

Advantages of HTML

  • Free and Open-Source: HTML is free to use and widely supported.
  • Platform Independent: It works on any device with a web browser.
  • Simple to Learn and Use: Its straightforward syntax makes it accessible to beginners.
  • Rich Multimedia Support: HTML supports embedding images, videos, and audio.
  • Interoperability: It works seamlessly with other technologies like CSS and JavaScript.

Disadvantages of HTML

  • Static Nature: HTML alone cannot create dynamic content; it needs CSS and JavaScript for interactivity.
  • Limited Styling Options: CSS is required for advanced styling.
  • Lack of Functionality: HTML lacks the functionality of programming languages; it's purely for structuring content.
  • Manual Coding Required: Writing HTML code manually can be time-consuming.
  • Browser Compatibility Issues: Different browsers may render HTML elements differently, causing inconsistencies.
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