The Ultimate Guide to Understanding HTML

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the foundation of the web. It is a markup language used to create the structure of a web page and define its content.

HTML Structure

HTML documents are made up of a series of elements. Elements are defined by tags, which are placed around the content of the element. For example, the following code creates a heading:

  
This is a heading
  

There are two types of elements: block elements and inline elements. Block elements take up the full width of the available space, while inline elements only take up as much space as needed to display their content.

• Block elements include headings (h1-h6), paragraphs (p), lists (ul, ol), and tables (table).
• Inline elements include links (a), images (img), and spans (span).

HTML Elements

There are dozens of different HTML elements, each with its own purpose. Some of the most common elements include:

• Headings (h1-h6): Define the headings of a web page.
• Paragraphs (p): Define the paragraphs of a web page.
• Lists (ul, ol): Define bulleted or numbered lists.
• Links (a): Define hyperlinks to other web pages.
• Images (img): Define images to be displayed on a web page.
• Tables (table): Define tables of data.

HTML Attributes

Attributes are used to modify the behavior of HTML elements. Attributes are placed within the opening tag of an element, after the element name. For example, the following code creates a link to another web page:

  Example
  

The href attribute specifies the URL of the web page that the link will go to.

HTML Best Practices

There are a number of best practices that should be followed when writing HTML code. These best practices help to ensure that your code is readable, maintainable, and accessible.

• Use proper indentation: Indentation makes your code easier to read and understand.
• Follow the correct syntax: HTML is a formal language with a specific syntax. Make sure your code follows the correct syntax or it will not be valid.
• Use semantic elements: Semantic elements help to define the meaning of the content of a web page. For example, use the heading elements (h1-h6) to define the headings of a web page.
• Make your code accessible: Make sure your code is accessible to people with disabilities. For example, use alt attributes on images to provide a description of the image for people who cannot see it.

Conclusion

HTML is a powerful language that can be used to create a wide variety of web pages. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can write HTML code that is readable, maintainable, and accessible.