What Is HTML? Hypertext Markup Language
What Is HTML Programming?
HTML Programming (Hypertext Markup Language) is the code used to structure a web page and its content. For example, content can be structured as paragraphs, bullet-point lists, images, or data tables. As the title suggests, this article will give you a basic understanding of HTML and its functions.
HTML is a computer language used to create most web pages and online applications. A hypertext is text that links to other texts, while a markup language is a system of annotations that defines the structure and style of documents.
Although HTML is often referred to as a programming language, it is technically not one because it cannot create dynamic functionality. Instead, HTML allows users to create and organize sections, paragraphs, and links using elements, tags, and attributes.
Common Uses of HTML:
Web Development: Developers use HTML to define how web browsers display elements like text, hyperlinks, and media.
Internet Navigation: HTML makes it easy to embed links between pages and websites.
Web Documentation: HTML allows formatting and organizing documents similarly to how you’d use a word processor.
HTML is now an official web standard maintained and updated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
What’s HTML Used For?
HTML is the default language of web-based content. It helps browsers understand the structure of web documents and enables them to render elements like audio, video, spreadsheets, and applications. It also facilitates navigation within or between web pages using hyperlinks.
Developers can use HTML to design forms for product orders, reservations, or search queries. Therefore, HTML is a fundamental building block for creating e-commerce platforms and subscription-based services.
How Does HTML Work?
Most websites consist of multiple HTML pages—for example, a homepage, an about page, and a contact page, each with its own HTML file.
HTML files typically have a .html or .htm extension. When a browser reads one of these files, it renders its content for the user.
HTML Elements
Each HTML page contains elements, which consist of tags and attributes. These are the basic building blocks of web pages.
A basic HTML element includes:
Opening tag – indicates where the element begins (e.g.,
<p>for a paragraph).Content – the text or media the user sees.
Closing tag – ends the element (e.g.,
</p>).
Example:
<p>This is how you add a paragraph in HTML.</p>
Attributes
Attributes provide additional information about elements. They have two parts: a name and a value.
Example:
<p style="color:purple; font-family:verdana;">This is a styled paragraph.</p>
You can use a class attribute to apply the same style to multiple elements.
Example:
<html>
<head>
<style>
.important {
background-color: blue;
color: white;
border: 2px solid black;
margin: 2px;
padding: 2px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1 class="important">This is a heading</h1>
<p class="important">This is a paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>
Some elements are empty and don’t require a closing tag—for example:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="An image">
Every HTML document should begin with a <!DOCTYPE> declaration to specify the document type:
<!DOCTYPE html>
Most Used HTML Tags and Elements
There are around 142 HTML tags, though modern browsers don’t support all of them. Here are the most commonly used:
Block-Level Elements
Block-level elements take up the full width of the screen and always start on a new line. Examples:
<html>: the root element.<head>: contains metadata (title, charset, etc.).<body>: includes the visible content.
Other examples include:
Headings:
<h1>to<h6>, from largest to smallest.Paragraphs:
<p>.Lists:
<ol>for ordered,<ul>for unordered, and<li>for list items.
Inline Elements
Inline elements format content within block-level elements. They don’t start a new line.
Examples:
<strong>– bold text.<em>– italicized text.<a href="https://example.com/">Click me!</a>– hyperlink.
HTML vs HTML5
HTML started with just 18 tags, and each new version added more. The most significant upgrade came in HTML5, released in 2014.
Key differences:
HTML5 supports new form controls.
Introduces semantic tags like
<article>,<header>, and<footer>for clearer document structure.
How HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Work Together
HTML provides the structure of a web page.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) adds styles like color, layout, and animations.
JavaScript introduces dynamic behavior, like sliders and pop-ups.
Together, these three technologies are essential for front-end web development.
Conclusion
HTML is the foundation of nearly every website. It provides structure through elements and tags and is easy for beginners to learn.
However, HTML works best when combined with CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactive functionality.
We hope this article has given you a clear understanding of what HTML is and how it works.
