What is HTML?
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language for creating web pages. It structures content on the web using a system of elements and tags. HTML works alongside CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling and JavaScript for interactivity, forming the foundation of web development.
Importance of HTML in Web Development
- Structure: HTML defines the structure of a webpage, ensuring content is organized.
- Accessibility: Semantic HTML enhances accessibility for screen readers and search engines.
- Interoperability: HTML is supported by all web browsers, making it universally applicable.
History & Evolution of HTML
Early Versions of HTML
- HTML 1.0 (1991): Basic document formatting, limited tags.
- HTML 2.0 (1995): Forms, tables, and basic interactive elements.
- HTML 3.2 (1997): Wider browser support, additional styling options.
Advancements in HTML
- HTML 4.01 (1999): Introduced more semantic elements and better script handling.
- XHTML (2000): A stricter XML-based version of HTML for better consistency.
- HTML5 (2014 – Present): Added modern features like multimedia support, semantic tags, and API integrations.
How HTML Works with Browsers
Role of Browsers in Rendering HTML
Browsers interpret HTML code and display content accordingly. They follow the Document Object Model (DOM) hierarchy to structure a webpage.
HTML Parsing & DOM Structure
- The browser loads the HTML document.
- It parses the document into a tree-like structure (DOM).
- Styles and scripts are applied to render the final webpage.
Differences Between Various Browsers
- Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari may render HTML differently due to variations in their rendering engines.
- Developers use techniques like CSS resets and feature detection to ensure cross-browser compatibility.
This article sets the foundation for understanding HTML. The next article will guide you through setting up HTML editors and creating your first HTML page.