HTML Overview

HTML is the foundation of every website. It defines what content appears on a web page and how that content is structured.

HTML does not control design or logic.
Its job is simple: structure the content so browsers can understand and display it correctly.

What HTML Is

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language.

  • HyperText → links between pages
  • Markup → tags used to mark content
  • Language → rules that browsers understand

HTML uses tags to describe content like text, images, links, forms, and media.

What HTML Does

HTML is used to:

  • Create page structure (headings, paragraphs, sections)
  • Display images, videos, and audio
  • Create links between pages
  • Build forms for user input
  • Define layout and semantic meaning

HTML works together with:

  • CSS → styling (colors, layout, design)
  • JavaScript → behavior (interaction, logic)

Basic HTML Page Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="description" content="Simple HTML overview example">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>HTML Overview</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to HTML</h1>
  <p>This is a simple HTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>

What Each Part Means

  • <!DOCTYPE html>
    Declares that this document uses HTML5
  • <html lang="en">
    Root element of the page
    lang helps browsers and screen readers
  • <head>
    Contains page information (not visible)
  • <meta charset="UTF-8">
    Supports all modern characters and symbols
  • <meta name="viewport">
    Makes the page responsive on all devices
  • <title>
    Page title shown in the browser tab
  • <body>
    Contains visible page content

How HTML Works in a Browser

  1. Browser reads the HTML file
  2. It interprets tags from top to bottom
  3. Content is displayed based on tag meaning
  4. CSS styles it, JavaScript adds behavior (if present)

Important Notes

  • HTML is not case-sensitive, but lowercase is best practice
  • Tags usually come in pairs (<p></p>)
  • Some tags are self-closing (<img>, <meta>)
  • HTML files use the .html extension

Why Learning HTML Is Important

  • Required for web development
  • Easy to learn, powerful in use
  • Works on all browsers and devices
  • Base for learning CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks