HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the bedrock of the World Wide Web. It’s not a programming language in the traditional sense, but a markup language that provides the structure and meaning of web content. Think of it as the skeleton of a website, defining the layout and organization of everything you see on a web page. The language works through a system of tags, which are keywords enclosed in angle brackets, like <p> for a paragraph or <img> for an image. These tags tell a web browser how to display and interpret the content. For example, a heading tag <h1> signals that the enclosed text is a main heading, and the browser will render it as such.
HTML is responsible for organizing text, links, images, tables, lists, and other elements into a coherent and readable format. It provides the semantical foundation for the content, which is crucial for accessibility tools like screen readers and for search engine optimization (SEO). While HTML creates the structure, it is often paired with other technologies to handle the aesthetics and functionality. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to style the content, controlling colors, fonts, and layouts, while JavaScript adds interactivity and dynamic behavior. Together, this trio forms the core of modern web development. Every web page you visit, from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce site, is built on an HTML foundation, making it an indispensable skill for anyone looking to build or understand websites.
