HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to create and structure content on the World Wide Web. It provides a way to format and present information, including text, images, links, and multimedia elements, in a web browser. HTML uses a system of tags and attributes to define the structure and layout of web pages.
Key Features of HTML:
- Elements and Tags: HTML documents are constructed using various elements, each represented by a tag enclosed in angle brackets (< >). Tags define the purpose and structure of content on a web page.
- Attributes: HTML tags can have attributes, which provide additional information or settings for an element. Attributes are specified within the opening tag and modify the behavior or appearance of the element.
- Document Structure: An HTML document typically begins with a <!DOCTYPE> declaration, followed by the <html> element that contains the entire page content. The <head> element contains metadata and page information, while the <body> element contains the visible content.
- Text Formatting: HTML tags can be used to format text, such as headings (<h1> to <h6>), paragraphs (<p>), bold (<strong> or <b>), italic (<em> or <i>), and more.
- Links and Hyperlinks: The <a> tag is used to create links and hyperlinks to other web pages, documents, or resources.
- Images and Multimedia: The <img> tag is used to embed images, while HTML5 introduced tags like <audio> and <video> for embedding multimedia content.
- Lists: HTML supports ordered lists (<ol>), unordered lists (<ul>), and definition lists (<dl>) to organize and display information in a structured manner.
Basic HTML Structure:
A simple HTML document follows this basic structure:
HTML Copy code
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>Page Title</title> </head> <body> <h1>Heading 1</h1> <p>This is a paragraph.</p> <a href=”https://www.example.com”>Visit Example Website</a> </body> </html>
HTML5:
HTML5 is the latest version of HTML, introduced in 2014. It comes with many new elements and attributes that enhance the capabilities of web development, including support for multimedia, semantic elements, and improved form controls.
Semantic Elements:
HTML5 introduced semantic elements that provide meaning and structure to content, making it more accessible and readable by both humans and search engines. Examples include <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, <footer>, and more.
Accessibility:
HTML plays a crucial role in web accessibility, as it allows developers to create accessible web content using semantic elements, proper headings, alt attributes for images, and more. Accessible HTML ensures that web content is usable by people with disabilities.
Conclusion:
HTML is the backbone of web development, providing a standard way to structure and present content on the internet. It serves as the foundation for building web pages and facilitates seamless communication between browsers and servers. By combining HTML with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript, web developers can create dynamic, visually appealing, and interactive web applications that are accessible to a global audience.