HTML is a markup language commonly used to structure elements such as paragraphs, headings, and links on web pages. Although it may resemble programming code at first glance, HTML is not a programming language because it cannot execute dynamic functions. Today, HTML is recognized as the official standard for web development, managed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is also responsible for its periodic updates.
This article will delve deeper into what HTML is, its history, how it operates, and other related topics. Read on for a detailed explanation!
What Is HTML and Its History?
Hypertext Markup Language, better known as HTML, is the primary markup language for building web pages and web-based applications. HTML was first created by Tim Berners-Lee, a physicist at CERN, a research institute in Switzerland. Its initial version was launched in 1991 with just 18 tags. Since then, every HTML update has introduced new tags and attributes.
When working with HTML, you use a simple code structure consisting of tags and attributes to mark up elements on a web page. For instance, to create a paragraph, you simply place text between an opening <p> tag and a closing </p> tag, as shown below:
<p>This is how you add a paragraph in HTML.</p>
<p>You can add more than one!</p>
Due to its widespread popularity, HTML has become the official web standard, with its development overseen by the W3C. According to the Mozilla Developer Network, there are currently 140 HTML tags, though some are no longer supported by modern browsers. In 2014, HTML5 was introduced, bringing semantic elements like <article>, <header>, and <footer> that enhance content structure clarity.
Now that you understand what HTML is, let’s explore how it works.
How Does HTML Work?
HTML files have the extensions .html or .htm and can be opened using various web browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox. The browser reads the file and renders its content for internet users to view.
A typical website consists of multiple distinct HTML pages, such as a homepage, an "About Us" page, or a contact page, each with its own document. These pages are composed of a series of tags or elements that form a content hierarchy, including headings, paragraphs, and other blocks.
Most HTML elements use opening and closing tags with the syntax <tag></tag>. Here’s an example of a simple HTML code structure:
<h1>Main Heading</h1>
<h2>Catchy Subheading</h2>
<p>First paragraph</p>
<img src="/" alt="Image">
<p>Second paragraph with an <a href="https://example.com">link</a></p>
</div>
The structure above includes elements like <div> for dividing content, <h1> and <h2> for headings, <p> for paragraphs, <img> for images, and <a> for links. The image tag features attributes like src for the file location and alt for its description.
HTML is also frequently used for:
- Web development: Designing the appearance of elements like text, links, and media.
- Web navigation: Embedding links between pages or sites.
- Documentation: Formatting documents similar to Microsoft Word.
HTML Tags and Their Roles
HTML tags are divided into two main types: block-level and inline.
- Block-Level Tags: Occupy all available space and always start on a new line, such as heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) and paragraph tags (<p>).
- Inline Tags: Use only the necessary space without starting a new line, such as links (<a>) or bold text (<strong>).
Every HTML document must include three essential block-level tags:
- <html>: The root element that wraps the entire page.
- <head>: Contains metadata like the page title.
- <body>: Holds the visible content.
Other examples include <div> for grouping large content, <ol> for ordered lists, and <ul> for unordered lists. Meanwhile, inline tags like <strong> for bold text or <em> for italic text are used to format content within blocks.
Differences Between HTML and HTML5
Since its inception, HTML has evolved significantly. HTML4 was released in 1999 and was succeeded by HTML5 in 2014. HTML5 introduced new features, such as support for audio and video via <audio> and <video> tags, reducing reliance on Flash Player. Additionally, HTML5 supports semantic elements that improve content structure clarity and aid search engines.
Advantages and Disadvantages of HTML
- Easy to learn and free (open-source).
- Supported by all web browsers.
- Integrates well with languages like PHP.
Disadvantages:
- Limited to static content.
- Lacks programming logic support.
- Some new features are slow to be adopted by older browsers.
HTML with CSS and JavaScript
HTML alone cannot create a dynamic website. It performs best when combined with CSS for visual styling and JavaScript for interactive functionality. HTML provides the foundational structure, CSS adds aesthetics, and JavaScript introduces dynamism.
Conclusion
HTML is a markup language designed to structure static web content, not a programming language capable of dynamic functions. With its simple tag-based structure, HTML serves as the foundation of frontend technology, enhanced by CSS for styling and JavaScript for functionality, delivering a richer user experience.