Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML, serves as the fundamental building block of web pages. It is a standardized markup language that allows content creators to structure and format their web pages using tags. HTML tags define various types of content, such as paragraphs, headings, links, images, and much more. HTML documents are interpreted by web browsers, which render the page according to the instructions contained within the HTML code.
Basics of HTML Structure
An HTML document begins with a document type declaration (<!DOCTYPE html>), which informs the browser that it is an HTML5 document. The basic structure of an HTML document includes the root element <html>, which wraps around the entire HTML code, and two main sections: <head> and <body>.
<head>contains metadata about the document, such as the title of the page displayed in the browser tab, links to style sheets, scripts, and other invisible information for the browser.<body>contains the actual content of the web page visible to users.
Working with HTML Tags
Each element in HTML is represented by an opening and closing tag (e.g., <p> for a paragraph and </p> to close it), except for self-closing tags like <img> for images. Tags can contain attributes, providing additional information about the element, such as src for images or href for links.
Using CSS with HTML
For visual styling of HTML elements, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are employed. CSS can be applied directly within HTML tags using the style attribute, embedded within the document's header using the <style> tag, or externally referenced using the <link> tag. CSS allows the separation of content from presentation and offers rich possibilities for visual design.
Adding Interactivity with JavaScript
While HTML and CSS are crucial for the structure and appearance of a web page, JavaScript (JS) adds interactivity. JS code can be inserted directly into HTML documents or externally referenced. It enables reacting to user actions, manipulating HTML and CSS in real-time, and communicating with servers without the need to refresh the page.
Key HTML Tags and Their Usage
<h1>to<h6>: Headings of various levels, with<h1>having the highest priority.<a href="/URL">: Hyperlinks to other pages or resources.<ul>,<ol>,<li>: Unordered and ordered lists.<table>: Creation of tables with rows (<tr>), headers (<th>), and cells (<td>).<form>: Forms for collecting user data.
Basic Best Practices
When building websites, it is essential to adhere to standards and best practices, such as using semantic tags for better accessibility and SEO, optimizing images for faster loading, and securing forms against misuse. Comments in the code help with readability and maintenance.
HTML is an ever-evolving language, so staying updated on new tags and practices is crucial. The development of web technologies offers continuously new possibilities for website design and functionality, and keeping pace with these changes can be key to success in the world of web design.
