HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is a language that is used to create and structure the content of web pages. But how does it actually work?
How Does It Work?
When you visit a website, your web browser sends a request to the server where the website is hosted. The server responds by sending the HTML code for the web page back to your browser.
The browser then reads the HTML code and uses it to render the content of the web page. This process is known as parsing.
HTML is made up of a series of elements, or tags, that are used to mark up the content of a web page. These tags tell the browser how to display the content, whether it’s a heading, a paragraph, an image, or a link.
For example, the <h1>
tag is used to create a heading, and the <p>
tag is used to create a paragraph. To create a link, you can use the <a>
tag, and to add an image, you can use the <img>
tag.
HTML also has attributes, which provide additional information about the elements. For example, the src
attribute specifies the source of an image, and the href
attribute specifies the destination of a link.
In addition to HTML, web pages often include other technologies like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript. CSS is used to apply styles to the content of a web page, and JavaScript is used to add interactivity and dynamic behavior.
Conclusion
Understanding how HTML works is essential for any web developer, as it forms the foundation for building professional-quality websites. With the skills and knowledge you gain in this course, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own stunning websites.
Exercises
To review these concepts, we will go through a series of exercises designed to test your understanding and apply what you have learned.
When you visit a website, what sends the HTML code for the web page back to your browser?
The server sends the HTML code for the web page back to the browser.
What is the process called when the browser reads the HTML code and uses it to render the content of the web page?
The process is called parsing.
True or false: HTML tags tell the browser how to display the content of a web page.
True. HTML tags tell the browser how to display the content of a web page, whether it’s a heading, a paragraph, an image, or a link.
What is the purpose of HTML attributes?
The purpose of HTML attributes is to provide additional information about the elements.
In addition to HTML, what other technologies are often used on web pages?
In addition to HTML, web pages often include other technologies like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript. CSS is used to apply styles to the content of a web page, and JavaScript is used to add interactivity and dynamic behavior.