Beginning with HTML
http://www.onlineresourcesdirectory.com/articles/504/1/Beginning-with-HTML/Page1.html
Peter Moses
By Peter Moses
Published on Saturday 21st 2009
HTML does not have to be difficult to learn. Its fundamentals are quite
simple. It is when HTML is used with other languages such as
javascript, php, asp, vbscript, etc. that HTML looks intimidating to
the untrained eye.
HTML does not have to be difficult to learn. Its fundamentals are quite simple. It is when HTML is used with other languages such as javascript, php, asp, vbscript, etc. that HTML looks intimidating to the untrained eye.
The first thing to note is that HTML is a markup language. Basically, a markup language is not a full on programming language. HTML does not have the logic structure that a regular programming language has. For instance, HTML does not do what-ifs type of logic. You will not find any if-statements, for-loop, while-loops, select statements, etc. There is no flow control built into HTML.
Being a markup language, all it does is define sections of content so that it is presented properly on a web browser. HTML has these main tags that are required in every HTML document. We are going to use lowercase because that is the most accepted standard. Although, HTML can be written with upper case tags, as well.
<html>
<head><title>This is where the title goes</title></head>
<body>
This is where you place your main content
</body>
</html>
That is it! Just remember those four tags -- html, head, title, body. Remember the general rule: every tag needs a closing tag. Closing tags are prefixed with a forward slash -- </title></head></body></html>.
If you want to practice recognizing those basic HTML tags, do the following...
Depending on your browser, the exact wording to navigate to the source code section might be a little different. Your Internet Explorer, Safari, Netscape, Opera, etc. might use slightly different wording. Just look for something that seems like it will show you the code for the webpage you are viewing.
You are now on your way to understanding HTML
The first thing to note is that HTML is a markup language. Basically, a markup language is not a full on programming language. HTML does not have the logic structure that a regular programming language has. For instance, HTML does not do what-ifs type of logic. You will not find any if-statements, for-loop, while-loops, select statements, etc. There is no flow control built into HTML.
Being a markup language, all it does is define sections of content so that it is presented properly on a web browser. HTML has these main tags that are required in every HTML document. We are going to use lowercase because that is the most accepted standard. Although, HTML can be written with upper case tags, as well.
<html>
<head><title>This is where the title goes</title></head>
<body>
This is where you place your main content
</body>
</html>
That is it! Just remember those four tags -- html, head, title, body. Remember the general rule: every tag needs a closing tag. Closing tags are prefixed with a forward slash -- </title></head></body></html>.
If you want to practice recognizing those basic HTML tags, do the following...
- open a web browser
- go to any website
- view the website's HTML code by clicking on the "View" menu and then choosing "Page Source"
Depending on your browser, the exact wording to navigate to the source code section might be a little different. Your Internet Explorer, Safari, Netscape, Opera, etc. might use slightly different wording. Just look for something that seems like it will show you the code for the webpage you are viewing.
You are now on your way to understanding HTML