What Is HTML?
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the foundational language used to create the structure of websites. It acts like the blueprint of a house, outlining where everything goes, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links. Just like how a house’s frame determines the layout of rooms, walls, and doors, HTML defines the different sections and elements on a webpage.
HTML is not a programming language; it’s a markup language. This means that it doesn’t perform calculations or actions like a programming language does. Instead, it’s used to describe the structure of content, telling the browser how to display text, images, and multimedia on a webpage.
When you visit a website, you don’t see HTML code itself, but what you do see (like headings, paragraphs, or images) is all put together because of HTML. It’s the basic framework that every webpage relies on.
How Does HTML Work?
- Tags: HTML uses tags to mark the beginning and end of elements (like headings or paragraphs). For example,
p
is used to create a paragraph. - Elements: These are the building blocks of an HTML page, including text, images, videos, links, and more. They are enclosed in tags, such as
h1
for a heading orimg
for an image. - Attributes: Elements can have attributes that provide additional information. For example, an
img
tag might have a “src” attribute to specify the image source. - Hierarchy: HTML elements are nested inside one another, creating a structure, much like rooms inside a house. A webpage typically starts with an
html
tag and is built out with elements like headers, sections, and footers.
Importance Of Understanding HTML
For web designers, understanding HTML is crucial because it’s the foundation of most websites. Even if designers use more advanced tools or software to build websites, knowing HTML helps them control the structure and fix issues faster. It’s like knowing the basics of how a house is built—you might not need to build the whole house from scratch, but understanding the foundation and framework helps you identify and fix issues quickly when something goes wrong.
Furthermore, knowing HTML helps designers make their websites more accessible and optimized for search engines. This means their designs will work well across different devices and browsers, leading to better user experiences and improved visibility online.
Why We Choose HTML
We rely on HTML because it’s fundamental to the process of web design. Even if I’m using a WordPress builder or a premium template, I still need to understand how HTML works behind the scenes to make sure that everything is structured correctly.
Additionally, many templates and builders allow you to customize certain aspects of a webpage. While the builder handles most of the heavy lifting, there are times when editing the raw HTML allows for more flexibility and precision in design and layout.
HTML Document Code
NOTE: A plain HTML document is displayed unstyled, with only the browser’s default styling being applied (e.g., standard font sizes, colors, and spacing).