What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create and design web pages. It is not a programming language but a markup language that tells the browser how to display text, images, links, and other content.

For example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First Page</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
  <p>This is my first HTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>

When you open this code in a browser, it will display a simple webpage with a heading and a paragraph.

History of HTML

YearVersion
1989Tim Berners-Lee invented www
1991Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML
1993Dave Raggett drafted HTML+
1995HTML Working Group defined HTML 2.0
1997W3C Recommendation: HTML 3.2
1999W3C Recommendation: HTML 4.01
2000W3C Recommendation: XHTML 1.0
2008WHATWG HTML5 First Public Draft
2012WHATWG HTML5 Living Standard
2014W3C Recommendation: HTML5
2016W3C Candidate Recommendation: HTML 5.1
2017W3C Recommendation: HTML5.1 2nd Edition
2017W3C Recommendation: HTML5.2

Uses of HTML

HTML is everywhere on the web. Some common uses include:

  • Web Page Structure – Provides the skeleton of any website.
  • Embedding Media – Add images, videos, and audio.
  • Navigation – Create links and menus for browsing.
  • Forms & Input – Collect user data (e.g., login, signup, feedback forms).
  • Integration – Works with CSS (for styling) and JavaScript (for functionality).

In short, without HTML, websites cannot exist.

How to Start Learning HTML

Learning HTML is simple because it is beginner-friendly. Here’s how you can start:

  1. Install a Code Editor – Use free tools like VS Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++.
  2. Learn Basic Tags – <html>, <head>, <body>, <h1> to <h6>, <p>, <a>, <img>.
  3. Practice – Write small codes and open them in a browser.
  4. Use Online Resources – Websites like W3Schools, MDN Web Docs, and free tutorials.
  5. Build Mini Projects – Start with a personal homepage or a portfolio.

Before Learning HTML

Before diving into HTML, you should understand a few basics:

  • What is the Internet and Web? – HTML runs on browsers which are part of the World Wide Web.
  • Difference Between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript –
    • HTML = Structure
    • CSS = Styling
    • JavaScript = Functionality
  • File Basics – Saving files with .html extension and opening them in a browser.

Having this foundation will make learning HTML much easier.

First Step in HTML Learning

Your first step should be creating a simple HTML page.

Here’s a beginner example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First HTML Page</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to HTML Learning</h1>
  <p>This is my very first step into web development.</p>
</body>
</html>

👉 Save this code as index.html and open it in your browser. Congratulations! You’ve created your first webpage.

This will look like :

My First HTML Page

Welcome to HTML Learning

This is my very first step into web development.