Hypertext Markup Language

/ˌhaɪpəˌtɛkst ˈmɑːrkʌp ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), pronounced as /ˌhaɪpəˌtɛkst ˈmɑːrkʌp ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/, is a standard markup language used to create and structure content on the World Wide Web. HTML serves as the foundation for building web pages by defining the structure and layout of elements within a document.

History

HTML was developed in the early 1990s by Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist. It was designed as a means to share information among researchers at CERN, a European research organization. Over time, HTML evolved through various versions, with HTML5 being the latest and most advanced version, equipped with modern features and multimedia capabilities.

Usage

HTML is used to structure and format content on the web, providing a way to define headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, and more. It doesn't dictate how content looks, but rather how it is organized and displayed by web browsers.

Applications

HTML has numerous applications in web development, including:

  • Web Page Creation: HTML is the backbone of web pages, defining their layout, content hierarchy, and linking.
  • Content Publishing: Bloggers, journalists, and writers use HTML to publish articles, news, and other forms of online content.
  • Online Documentation: Technical documentation, tutorials, and user manuals are often created using HTML to ensure proper structure.
  • Interactive Web Elements: HTML5 introduces interactive elements like forms, videos, audio, and canvas for graphics and animations.
  • Responsive Design: HTML supports responsive design techniques to create web pages that adapt to various screen sizes and devices.

Code Example

Here's a simple example of HTML code for creating a basic web page:

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html> 
<head>    
<title>My First Web Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Web Page</h1>
<p>This is a sample paragraph of text.</p>
<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example Website</a>
</body>
</html>

In this example, HTML is used to define headings, paragraphs, and a hyperlink.

HTML's role in web development is pivotal, as it structures content and provides the foundation for web browsers to interpret and display web pages accurately.