Welcome to the world of web development!
If you’re just starting your journey, there’s no better place to begin than with HTML, or HyperText Markup Language.
Or at least, that’s how I got started. LOL All Hail MySpace Days!
HTML is the backbone of all web pages. It’s not just a technology but the very language that has shaped the Internet as we know it today.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard markup language used to create and design web pages. By defining the structure and layout of a web page, HTML allows us to place content such as text, images, and videos on the Internet.
Understanding HTML Tags
HTML documents are comprised of HTML elements, and these elements are defined by tags. Tags are enclosed in angle brackets. For example, <html>, <div>, <span>, and <img> are all HTML tags. Most elements have an opening tag and a closing tag (<tag></tag>), but some, known as self-closing tags, do not require a closing tag (like <img> and <br>).
Here are a few common tags and their purposes:
<h1>to<h6>: These are heading tags, with<h1>being the most important, and<h6>the least. They represent different levels of headings on a web page.<p>: Defines a paragraph. This tag is one of the most frequently used to display text.<a>: The anchor tag is used to create links to other web pages (both within your site and to external sites).<ul>,<ol>, and<li>: Unordered (bulleted) and ordered (numbered) list tags, with list item tags nested inside.
Pssst. If you are curious as to how Medium is structured, you can right click your mouse, and select inspect. 😝
The Evolution and Importance of HTML5
HTML has evolved significantly since its inception. The latest version, HTML5, was a major leap forward, introducing many new features that made HTML more powerful and efficient.
HTML5 includes new multimedia elements such as <video> and <audio>, as well as structural elements like <header>, <footer>, <article>, and <section> that help define the parts of a web page.
HTML5 is designed to be device-independent―meaning websites can look good on all devices, from desktops to smartphones!
Practical Uses of HTML
Every web page you view is built with HTML. It lays out the basic structure of the page before CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) adds styling and JavaScript adds interactivity.
Learning HTML is the first step in creating web content, whether it’s a simple personal blog or a complex commercial website.
Conclusion
HTML is essential for anyone looking to become a web developer. While it’s just the beginning of what you can learn in web development, mastering HTML is crucial as it forms the foundation upon which more complex technologies are built.
P.S. I know there are many paid bootcamps out there. But if you are just starting and would like to know if this is something for you, check out The Odin Project. It is free (well, when I wrote this article, it is. Date stamp: January 2025)! It is also structured and will guide you with the set up.
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