Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language used to create and structure web pages on the World Wide Web. It provides a set of instructions, tags, and elements used to define the structure, content, and layout of web documents, allowing web browsers to interpret and display them as web pages.
Key aspects of HTML include:
- Structuring Content: HTML allows web developers to structure content by using various elements and tags to define headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, tables, forms, and other components within a web page.
- Markup Tags: HTML is comprised of markup tags enclosed in angle brackets (
< >) that indicate the beginning and end of elements. Tags are paired as opening tags (<tag>) and closing tags (</tag>), with content placed between them. - Semantic Structure: HTML5 introduced semantic elements (such as
<header>,<footer>,<section>,<article>,<nav>,<main>, etc.) that provide clearer meaning to the content and aid in accessibility and search engine optimisation. - Attributes: HTML elements often have attributes that provide additional information or properties to the elements. Attributes are included within the opening tag and can modify the element’s behavior or appearance.
- Browser Interpretation: Web browsers interpret HTML code and render it as a visual representation that users can interact with, displaying text, images, links, and other media according to the instructions defined in the HTML document.
- Evolution and Standards: HTML continues to evolve with new versions, with HTML5 being the latest standard. HTML5 introduced enhanced multimedia support, new semantic elements, improved accessibility features, and better compatibility with modern web technologies.