Introduction to HTML
Beginner HTML Course
What is HTML?
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create webpages. Every website you browse on the internet is built, in part, with HTML. It gives structure to the content — headings, paragraphs, links, images, and more.
HTML is not a programming language — it's a markup language. It tells the browser how to display text, where to place images, and how content is organized.
History of HTML
HTML was born out of necessity. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the internet was growing. But there was no standard way to structure documents online. Enter Tim Berners-Lee. In 1991, he introduced the first version of HTML, which had 18 tags.
Since then, HTML has evolved significantly. Today, we use HTML5 — a robust version that supports multimedia, semantic elements, and cleaner code practices. Here's a brief snapshot of HTML's evolution:
- 1991: HTML 1.0 (Informal Release)
- 1995: HTML 2.0 — Formal standard
- 1997–1999: HTML 3.2 and 4.01 — More tags and layout support
- 2014–Present: HTML5 — Modern features like video, audio, and semantic tags
HTML vs Other Languages
Let’s clear the confusion: HTML is not a programming language like SQL or JavaScript. Here's how it compares:
| Aspect | HTML | SQL | JavaScript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Structure of web content | Manage databases | Interactive behavior on webpages |
| Type | Markup language | Query language | Programming language |
| Example Use | Creating a webpage | Fetching data from a table | Validating a form |
Basic HTML Page Structure
Every HTML page starts with a set of tags that define its structure. Let’s look at a simple "Hello World" example:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Hello World</h1>
<p>This is my first HTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>
Hello World
This is my first HTML page.
This page includes a title shown in the browser tab, a heading (h1), and a paragraph (p). It’s minimal, but foundational.
HTML Elements: A Closer Look
1. Headings
<h1>Apple</h1>
<h2>Banana</h2>
<h3>Cherry</h3>
Apple
Banana
Cherry
2. Paragraphs
<p>This is a simple paragraph about fruits.</p>
This is a simple paragraph about fruits.
3. Lists
HTML supports both ordered and unordered lists.
Unordered List:<ul>
<li>Item 1</li>
<li>Item 2</li>
<li>Item 3</li>
</ul>
• Item 1
• Item 2
• Item 3
<ol>
<li>Apple</li>
<li>Banana</li>
<li>Cherry</li>
</ol>
1. Apple
2. Banana
3. Cherry
Let’s Recap
HTML is the cornerstone of web development. It defines the structure and layout of any web content. Whether you’re listing items, writing text, or building an entire webpage — HTML is the starting point.
Here’s what we covered:
- What HTML is and why it matters
- The evolution of HTML from the early 90s to HTML5
- Key differences between HTML, SQL, and JavaScript
- Your first HTML program — “Hello World”
- Common tags with hands-on examples
What’s Next?
Now that you’ve seen what HTML can do, it’s time to dive deeper. Learn how to add images, create forms, style content with CSS, and add dynamic behavior with JavaScript.
Remember, every great web application starts with a solid HTML foundation.
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