HTML Introduction
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create and design web pages. Every website that is viewed in a browser is built using HTML at its core.
Think of HTML as the skeleton of a web page. Just like a building needs a structure before walls and paint are added, a web page needs HTML before any design or functionality is applied.
What is HyperText?
HyperText means text that contains links. When clicking a link on a webpage and it takes to another page, that is HyperText in action. It connects pages together across the internet.
What is Markup Language?
A Markup Language uses special tags to describe how content should be displayed. For example, putting a word inside a heading tag tells the browser to show that word as a big bold title.
What Can HTML Do?
HTML is capable of doing the following on a web page:
- Display text, headings, and paragraphs
- Show images and videos
- Create links to other pages
- Build forms for user input (like login or contact forms)
- Organize data in tables
- Structure a page into sections like header, footer, and main content
How Does a Web Browser Use HTML?
A web browser such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari reads the HTML file and converts the tags into visible content on screen. The browser does not show the HTML tags themselves — it only shows what those tags produce.
For example, if the HTML says <h1>Hello World</h1>, the browser shows a large heading that reads Hello World.
A Simple HTML Page Example
Below is the simplest possible HTML web page. It has a title and one line of visible text.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Web Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to HTML</h1>
<p>This is my first web page.</p>
</body>
</html>What each part does:
| Tag / Code | Purpose |
|---|---|
<!DOCTYPE html> | Tells the browser this is an HTML5 document |
<html> | The root (starting point) of the page |
<head> | Contains information about the page (not visible) |
<title> | Sets the title shown on the browser tab |
<body> | Contains all visible content on the page |
<h1> | A large heading |
<p> | A paragraph of text |
HTML Version History
HTML has gone through several versions over the years. The current and most widely used version is HTML5, released in 2014. It introduced many modern features such as support for audio, video, and better page structure.
| Version | Year |
|---|---|
| HTML 1.0 | 1991 |
| HTML 2.0 | 1995 |
| HTML 3.2 | 1997 |
| HTML 4.01 | 1999 |
| HTML5 | 2014 (current) |
Key Points to Remember
- HTML is not a programming language — it is a markup language
- HTML uses tags to structure content
- HTML files are saved with a .html or .htm extension
- HTML works in every web browser without any installation
- HTML is always used alongside CSS (for design) and JavaScript (for interactivity)