HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is the fundamental building block of the World Wide Web. It serves as the backbone of web pages, providing structure and meaning to content through a system of markup tags. HTML allows developers to organize text, images, links, and other elements into coherent web documents that browsers can interpret and display to users.
HTML documents follow a hierarchical tree structure that browsers can easily parse and understand. Every HTML document begins with a DOCTYPE declaration, followed by the root HTML element. Inside the HTML element, we have two main sections: the HEAD, which contains metadata like the page title, and the BODY, which contains the visible content. Tags work as containers, with opening brackets indicating the start of an element and closing brackets marking the end. This nested structure creates a clear hierarchy that defines the relationship between different parts of the webpage.
HTML provides a rich set of elements for structuring web content. Headings from h1 to h6 create a hierarchy of importance, with h1 being the largest and most important. Paragraphs use the p tag to organize text into readable blocks. Links are created with the a tag and the href attribute to specify destinations. Images use the img tag with src for the file path and alt for accessibility. Lists can be unordered with ul and li tags, or ordered with ol and li. Each element serves a specific purpose in creating well-structured, meaningful web content.
HTML attributes are powerful modifiers that provide additional information and functionality to elements. They follow a name-equals-value syntax and are placed inside the opening tag. The id attribute creates a unique identifier for targeting specific elements. The class attribute groups elements for styling purposes. The style attribute allows inline CSS for direct formatting. For images, the src attribute specifies the file path while alt provides alternative text for accessibility. Links use href to define destinations and target to control how they open. These attributes transform basic elements into dynamic, interactive, and accessible web components.
Modern HTML5 provides semantic elements that create meaningful page structure beyond basic divs and spans. The header element contains introductory content, while nav holds navigation links. The main element wraps the primary page content, with sections organizing related content and articles containing standalone pieces. Aside elements hold supplementary content like sidebars. Footer elements contain closing information. This semantic structure not only makes code more readable but also improves accessibility and search engine optimization. Proper nesting and indentation create a clear hierarchy that both browsers and developers can easily understand and maintain.