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What is HTML?

HTML is the standard markup language that defines the structure and content of every web page.

Markup language. Updated by DATAL Projects

Made by
Tim Berners-Lee, now maintained by WHATWG
First released
1991
License
Open standard
Type
Markup language
Runs on
Every web browser
Official site
html.spec.whatwg.org

What HTML is

HTML is the standard markup language that defines the structure and content of every web page. Clean, semantic HTML helps search engines and screen readers understand a page, which supports both SEO and accessibility.

HTML was created by Tim Berners-Lee while he worked at CERN, a research center in Europe. He first described it publicly in 1991 as a simple way to share linked documents between scientists. It became the base language of the World Wide Web.

The World Wide Web Consortium, known as the W3C, published HTML 4 in the late 1990s. A group of browser makers formed WHATWG in 2004 and began the work that became HTML5, which added video, audio, canvas, and new semantic elements. Since 2019, the WHATWG HTML Living Standard has been the single official version, and it is updated continuously instead of in numbered releases.

How HTML works

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is not a programming language. It is a way to label content so a browser knows what each part is: a heading, a paragraph, a link, an image, a form.

Content is wrapped in elements, which are written with tags in angle brackets. Most elements have an opening tag and a closing tag, with the content between them. Attributes on a tag add details, such as the address a link points to or the alternative text for an image.

The browser reads an HTML file and builds a tree of elements called the DOM. CSS then styles that tree and JavaScript can change it. Choosing the element that matches the meaning of the content, such as nav, main, article, and button, is called semantic HTML. It helps search engines and screen readers understand the page.

Key features of HTML

  • Semantic elements

    Elements such as header, nav, main, article, and footer describe the role of each part of a page.

  • Links and navigation

    The anchor element connects pages to each other. Links are the feature that makes the web a web.

  • Forms and inputs

    Built in inputs cover text, email, dates, checkboxes, and file uploads, with basic validation included.

  • Media support

    Images, audio, and video can be placed on a page with native elements. No plugins are needed.

  • Accessibility built in

    Native elements come with keyboard support and meaning for assistive tools. Using them correctly covers much of basic accessibility.

  • Backward compatible

    Pages written decades ago still open in current browsers. New features are added without breaking old pages.

When to use HTML

A good choice for

  • The structure of every web page and web app
  • Simple static sites with no build tools
  • Content that needs to be found and read by search engines
  • Accessible forms and navigation
  • A first step for anyone learning web development

Pick something else when

  • Visual design and layout, which is the job of CSS
  • Logic and interactivity, which is the job of JavaScript
  • Storing or processing data, which needs a backend and a database

HTML compared with alternatives

HTML vs CSS

HTML says what the content is. CSS says how it looks. They are used together on every web page and are not alternatives to each other.

HTML vs Markdown

Markdown is a lighter way to write formatted text that is usually converted into HTML. It is faster for writing articles and notes. HTML gives full control over structure, attributes, and forms.

HTML vs JSX

JSX is the HTML like syntax used inside React components. It looks similar but is JavaScript, with a few different attribute names. What reaches the browser in the end is still HTML.

How to start learning HTML

  1. 01Read the HTML section of MDN Web Docs at developer.mozilla.org, which is free and kept up to date.
  2. 02Create a file named index.html in any text editor, add a heading and a paragraph, and open it in your browser.
  3. 03Learn the main elements: headings, paragraphs, links, images, lists, tables, and forms.
  4. 04Build a simple personal page with a short bio, a photo, and links, using semantic elements such as header, main, and footer.
  5. 05Check your page with the W3C Markup Validation Service at validator.w3.org and fix the errors it reports.

What HTML costs

HTML is a free and open standard. Nobody needs a license to write it or to publish pages made with it. You only need a text editor and a browser, both of which are available at no cost.

How DATAL Projects uses HTML

HTML is part of our web development work in the Philippines. Common uses:

  • Page structure for every site we build
  • Accessible forms and navigation
  • Email templates

Common questions about HTML

Is HTML free?

Yes. HTML is an open standard that anyone can use without paying. The tools you need to write it are free as well.

Is HTML a programming language?

No. HTML is a markup language, which means it describes content and structure. It has no logic such as conditions or loops, which is what JavaScript is for.

What is HTML used for?

HTML is used to define the structure and content of web pages. It is also used in emails and inside many desktop and mobile apps that show web content.

Is HTML hard to learn?

No. Most people can build a simple page on their first day. Writing clean, semantic, and accessible HTML takes more practice.

What is the difference between HTML and HTML5?

HTML5 was the name of the major update that added semantic elements, audio, video, and many new browser features. Today the standard is simply called HTML and is updated continuously. In practice, modern HTML and HTML5 mean the same thing.

Need a project built with HTML?

Tell us what you need. We reply with a scope, a price, and a timeline.

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