The primary language of the internet, HTML (HyperText Markup Language), is used to create and organize material for websites. HTML is the foundation of web development, thus anyone interested in creating websites or online apps has to know it. A thorough introduction to HTML is given in this page, including with information on its background, fundamental ideas, elements and attributes, semantic HTML, and recommended practices.
HISTORY OF HTML
Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML in 1991 while he was employed by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. His first iteration of HTML established the foundation for the modern web. HTML has changed over time, going through multiple versions:
• HTML 1.0: This initial version had limited capability and was originally released in 1993.
• HTML 2.0: This version, which was released in 1995, incorporated more components and standardized HTML.
• HTML 3.2: Upon its release in 1997, tables, applets, and scripting languages were supported.
• HTML 4.01: Introduced in 1999, this version featured several enhancements, such as enhanced forms and compatibility for CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
• XHTML: XHTML was introduced in 2000 with the goal of improving HTML’s XML compliance.
• HTML5: The most recent version was unveiled in 2014 and provides APIs for intricate web applications along with strong multimedia capabilities.
HTML Elements and Attributes:
Web pages are constructed from HTML elements. A start tag, content tag, and end tag make up each element. Typical components include the following:
• Headings: <h1> to <h6> for defining headings of different levels.
- Paragraphs: <p> for defining paragraphs of text.
- Links: <a> for creating hyperlinks.
- Images: <img> for embedding images.
- Lists: <ul> and <ol> for unordered and ordered lists, respectively, with <li> for list items.
- Tables: <table> for creating tables, with <tr>, <th>, and <td> for rows, headers, and cells.
Attributes provide additional information about HTML elements. They are placed within the start tag and usually come in name/value pairs. Common attributes include: • Headings: <h1> to <h6> for defining headings of different levels.
- Paragraphs: <p> for defining paragraphs of text.
- Links: <a> for creating hyperlinks.
- Images: <img> for embedding images.
- Lists: <ul> and <ol> for unordered and ordered lists, respectively, with <li> for list items.
- Tables: <table> for creating tables, with <tr>, <th>, and <td> for rows, headers, and cells.
Attributes provide additional information about HTML elements. They are placed within the start tag and usually come in name/value pairs. Common attributes include:
- id: Assigns a unique identifier to an element.
- class: Assigns one or more class names to an element for styling purposes.
- src: Specifies the source URL of an image.
- href: Specifies the destination URL of a link.
- alt: Provides alternative text for an image.
Best Practices:
To create well-structured, accessible, and maintainable HTML documents, follow these best practices:
- Use Semantic HTML: Use semantic elements to provide meaningful structure and improve accessibility.
- Keep It Simple: Write clean, readable, and concise code.
- Validate Your HTML: Use validators like the W3C Markup Validation Service to check for errors and ensure compliance with standards.
- Use Descriptive alt Text: Provide meaningful alternative text for images to improve accessibility.
- Optimize for SEO: Use appropriate heading levels, meta tags, and descriptive link text.
- Organize with Classes and IDs: Use classes and IDs to organize and style your HTML efficiently.
Keep Accessibility in Mind: Ensure your HTML is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, by following guidelines like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
You can find a smorgasboard of learning material on W3Schools .
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