HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard language used for creating web pages. It is a markup language that tells web browsers how to display content on a web page, such as text, images, videos, and other multimedia. HTML is the backbone of the World Wide Web, and without it, we wouldn’t have the internet as we know it today.
In this article, we’ll explore the basics of HTML, how it works, and its role in creating web pages. We’ll also look at some real-world examples of HTML in action and provide resources for further learning.
Table of Contents
What is HTML?
HTML is a markup language that uses tags to define elements on a web page. These elements can include headings, paragraphs, images, links, and more. HTML code is usually written in a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE), and saved with a .html or .htm file extension.
HTML was first developed in the late 1980s by physicist Tim Berners-Lee while working at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The first version of HTML, HTML 1.0, was released in 1993, and since then, the language has undergone several revisions, with the latest version being HTML5, released in 2014.
How Does HTML Work?
HTML works by providing a structure for web pages. It uses tags to define elements on a web page, and each tag has a specific purpose. For example, the
tag is used to define a paragraph, while the tag is used to insert an image.
HTML tags are enclosed in angle brackets, and usually come in pairs, with the opening tag and closing tag surrounding the content to be displayed. For example, to create a paragraph in HTML, you would use the following code:
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
The opening tag indicates the start of the paragraph, while the closing tag indicates the end of the paragraph.
HTML also allows for the use of attributes, which provide additional information about an element. For example, the tag can use the src attribute to specify the location of the image to be displayed, and the alt attribute to provide alternative text if the image cannot be displayed.
HTML documents are rendered by web browsers, which interpret the code and display the content according to the instructions provided by the HTML code. Web browsers also support CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript, which can be used to enhance the appearance and functionality of web pages.
Real-World Examples of HTML
Let’s look at some real-world examples of HTML in action.
Example 1: Google Homepage
The Google homepage is a great example of how HTML is used to create a simple, yet effective, web page. Here’s a simplified version of the HTML code used to create the Google homepage:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Google</title>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="text" name="q">
<input type="submit" value="Google Search">
</form>
</body>
</html>In this code, the <!DOCTYPE html> declaration specifies that the document is an HTML5 document. The <html> tag indicates the start of the HTML document, and the <head> tag contains information about the document, such as the title of the page.
The <body> tag contains the content of the web page, which in this case is a simple form with an input field and a submit button. When a user enters a search term and clicks the submit button, the form is submitted to Google’s servers, which return a list of search results.
Example 2: CNN Homepage
The CNN homepage is another example of how HTML is used to create more complex web pages. Here’s a simplified version of the HTML code used to create the CNN homepage:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>CNN</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
<header>
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="#">World</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Politics</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Business</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Health</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Entertainment</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Travel</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
</header>
<main>
<section>
<h1>Breaking News</h1>
<article>
<h2><a href="#">Headline Article</a></h2>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.</p>
</article>
<article>
<h2><a href="#">Headline Article</a></h2>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.</p>
</article>
</section>
<aside>
<h3>Popular Articles</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Article 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Article 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Article 3</a></li>
</ul>
</aside>
</main>
<footer>
<p>© 2023 Cable News Network. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved.</p>
</footer>
</body>
</html>In this code, the tag in the section specifies the location of a separate CSS file that contains styling information for the web page. The section contains a navigation bar created using an unordered list () and hyperlinks () to different sections of the website.
The <main> section contains two articles, each with a headline (<h2>) and some text. The <aside> section contains a list of popular articles, and the <footer> section contains copyright information.
HTML Resources and References
If you’re interested in learning more about HTML, there are plenty of resources available online. Here are a few to get you started:
- W3Schools HTML Tutorial – a comprehensive tutorial on HTML, including examples and exercises.
- MDN Web Docs HTML Guide – a detailed guide to HTML, with information on best practices and advanced topics.
- HTML5 Rocks – a website with tutorials and resources on HTML5, including multimedia and animation.
- HTML Validator – a tool that checks your HTML code for errors and provides suggestions for improvement.
Conclusion
HTML is an essential part of creating web pages and the World Wide Web. It provides a structure for web pages and allows web browsers to display content in a standardized way. By using HTML, web developers can create a wide variety of web pages, from simple forms to complex multimedia websites
