HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language used to create and structure content on the World Wide Web. It is the fundamental building block of web pages and is essential for creating and formatting the structure of web documents, including text, images, links, forms, and multimedia elements. HTML provides a way to define the elements and layout of a web page, making it possible for web browsers to interpret and display content correctly.
Key features and concepts of HTML include:
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Markup Language: HTML consists of a set of elements, tags, and attributes that developers use to structure and describe the content of a web page. These elements are written using angle brackets ( and ) and are enclosed in tags, such as p, h1, a, and many more.
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Document Structure: HTML documents typically have a hierarchical structure that includes elements like html, head, and body. The html element represents the root of the document, while the head element contains meta-information about the document, and the body element contains the visible content.
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Elements and Tags: HTML elements define the different types of content on a web page, such as headings, paragraphs, images, links, lists, tables, and forms. Each element is represented by a specific tag, which is used to enclose the content and provide instructions to the web browser on how to display it.
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Attributes: Elements can have attributes that provide additional information or modify the behavior of the element. For example, the img element has an src attribute that specifies the image source, and the a element has an href attribute that defines the link destination.
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Hyperlinks: HTML allows the creation of hyperlinks using the a (anchor) element, enabling users to navigate between different web pages and resources. Links can be either internal (within the same website) or external (to other websites).
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Lists and Tables: HTML provides elements for creating ordered lists (ol), unordered lists (ul), and definition lists (dl). Tables can be created using elements such as table, tr (table row), th (table header), and td (table data).
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Forms: HTML includes form elements like form, input, textarea, and button for creating interactive web forms. Users can submit data through forms, which can be processed on the server using server-side technologies like PHP or JavaScript.
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Multimedia: HTML supports embedding multimedia content, such as images, audio, and video, using elements like img, audio, and video. These elements allow web developers to provide rich media experiences.
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Semantic HTML: HTML5 introduced semantic elements like header, nav, section, article, footer, and others. These elements provide more meaningful and structured ways to describe the content and layout of a web page, improving accessibility and SEO.
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Compatibility: HTML is supported by all modern web browsers, making it a universal and cross-platform language for web development.
HTML works in conjunction with other web technologies like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling and JavaScript for adding interactivity and dynamic behavior to web pages. Together, these technologies form the foundation of web development, enabling the creation of visually appealing and interactive websites.