Everything you need to know about HTML – what it is for, how to create a website using HTML.
What is html
Html (short for Hyper Text Markup Language) is a language used to create web pages and information. It is an essential part of the website.
Although you cannot create dynamic features with HTML, such as form processing, without additional programming, it provides the foundation on which the entire World Wide Web is built.
- Versions of HTML: It developed from a simpler form (HTML 2.0) to extended versions (HTML 4.01, XHTML), acquiring new functions.
- HTML5: The latest version brings support for multimedia without additional plugins and is the element that enables modern web applications.
- Related technologies: CSS (for visual styling) and JavaScript (for interactivity) are often related to HTML, which together enable the creation of complex web solutions.
How html code works
The html code describes how the page is structured and what the elements are on it. It focuses on information such as paragraphs, headings, links, lists, forms, and the like. Every page on the Internet consists of such codes. For example, the code for the title is ‹h1›.
This language distinguishes the way the information is displayed, not the content itself. The CSS programming language is used to define the page style, such as color, font used, and so on.
In WordPress, you can use these codes when you create content in the WordPress text editor . In a text editor, you can use them to write down every tool that you use when creating web pages or individual articles.
What is needed to start?
To implement your project, you need a commonly used web browser, such as Mozilla Firefox , Opera or Internet Explorer , and a quality text editor, such as Sublime Text or Notepad++ .
How to create an HTML file?
To start creating a website, you only need a basic text editor and a browser. Proceed as follows:
- Create a new text document : In a text editor, write the HTML structure found below in this tutorial.
- Save the file with the extension
.html: Save the file under a specific name that reflects its contents, for exampleonas.html. Name the home page asindex.html. - Browse locally : Open the file in a web browser to display its contents. To see the source code of the page, use the shortcut
Ctrl+U. - Online publishing : Web hosting and a domain are required to share a file online. The file
index.htmlit will be automatically loaded as your domain’s homepage.
HTML document structure
Every HTML document starts with a declaration<!DOCTYPE html> , which defines it as an HTML5 document. the root element of an HTML page is<html> , which contains two main parts:<head> a<body> .
Element<head> contains the document title and metadata that is not displayed, such as CSS references and character set declarations.<body> contains all the content that appears as part of a web page, such as headings, paragraphs, images, etc.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Názov vašej stránky</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Obsah stránky je tu -->
</body>
</html>Basic brands
HTML tags define elements on a page, and basic tags include:
- Titles:
<h1>until<h6>tags create headings and subheadings on your page. - Paragraph: marks
<p>indicate paragraphs. - Links:
<a href="URL">creates hyperlinks. - Lists:
<ul>for unordered lists,<ol>for sorted lists a<li>for list items. - Pictures:
<img src="obrázok.jpg" alt="popis">to insert images. - Tables:
<table>, with table rows<tr>, headers<th>and cells<td>. - Forms:
<form>,<input>,<label>and other shape-related features.
Attributes
Attributes provide additional information about HTML elements. They appear in the opening tag and common attributes include:
href: specifies the URL for links.src: specifies the image source.alt: Provides alt text for images.class: To apply a class to an element that uses CSS for styling.id: Assigns a unique identifier to the element.style: Contains CSS styling directly in the tag.title: Offers advisory information that appears as a tooltip when you hover over an element.
<p class="text-info">Toto je odsek s atribútom class.</p>
<a href="https://example.com" title="Príklad webových stránok">Navštíviť príklad</a>By understanding and using these basic elements and attributes effectively, you can create well-structured and accessible websites.
Text formatting
In this section, you will learn how to use HTML tags to create effective and varied text displays on your web pages. From emphasizing key points to structuring content with headings, understanding text formatting is key to designing readable and engaging web pages.
Text elements
Paragraphs and headings:
Use a tag to define paragraphs<p> , which creates blocks of text separated by margins. Headings are essential for organizing content; use tags<h1> on brands<h6> to indicate the heading level where<h1> represents the highest or main name and<h6> least important.
Text styles and semantics:
To highlight text, use<strong> for importance and bold and<em> for highlighted text in italics, indicating a different voice or mood. Brands like <mark>, <small>, <del>, <ins>, <sub> a <sup> are available to you for further specificity, allowing you to highlight, highlight, edit, or present subscript and superscript text.
Text style
CSS styles and inline:
You checked the design of text elements using CSS. For a nested style, add an attributestyle directly to the element. For example:<p style="color: blue;">Tento text je modrý.</p> .
Fonts and colors:
Use CSS to customize fonts using a propertyfont-family and change their colors usingcolor . Adjust the look further usingbackground , to change the background color of the text, or usingtext-align adjust text alignment.
Using external CSS:
External CSS is recommended for a cleaner and more maintainable approach. Define your styles in a separate file.css and connect it with a tag<link> in the element<head> your HTML:
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>Create specific classes for reusable styles, for example:
/* styles.css */
.important-text {
font-weight: bold;
color: red;
}
.center-align {
text-align: center;
}Then apply these classes to HTML elements to achieve the desired effect:
<p class="important-text center-align">Tento text je tučný a zarovnaný na stred.</p>By mastering these basic elements of HTML and CSS, you’ll equip yourself with the tools you need to present your content in an attractive and organized way, improving the user experience on your website.
Content arrangement
Proper organization of content on a website using HTML is essential for user experience and accessibility. Structuring information in a logical way makes it easy for users to navigate and understand your content.
List
You have several options for lists in HTML, each serving a different purpose.
Unordered lists (ul): Use them for items that do not require a specific order. Each item in a list is wrapped in a list item tag (li) :
<ul>
<li>Položka zoznamu 1</li>
<li>Položka zoznamu 2</li>
<li>Položka zoznamu 3</li>
</ul>Ordered Lists (ol) : Select these when items must be in sequential order, such as steps in a tutorial.
<ol>
<li>Prvý krok</li>
<li>Druhý krok</li>
<li>Tretí krok</li>
</ol>Lists of descriptions (dl): Use them to list terms with their descriptions. Match the defining expression (dt) with a description of the definition (dd).
<dl>
<dt>HTML</dt>
<dd>Jazyk hypertextových značiek</dd>
<dt>CSS</dt>
<dd>Kaskádové štýly</dd>
</dl>Table
A table organizes data into rows and columns and is created using an elementtable . Make the table as follows:
- Table Row (tr) : Defines a row in a table.
- Table header (th) : Indicates the header cell in the table.
- Table Data (td) : represents a cell in a table that contains data.
- Table caption (caption) : Provides the title or summary of the table.
- Table Sections : Organize your table with
thead(group of table headers),tbody(table body group) atfoot(table footer group).
<table>
<caption>Vzorová tabuľka</caption>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Hlavička 1</th>
<th>Hlavička 2</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Údaje 1</td>
<td>Údaje 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Údaje 3</td>
<td>Údaje 4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>Sections and divisions
When segmenting content, HTML provides a number of elements designed to create a clear and semantic structure. At the highest level <, header><nav>, <section>, <article>, <aside> a <footer> they define the outline of the web page. Each serves a specific purpose:
<header>serves for introductory content or navigation aids.<nav>is usually for navigation links.<section>is a thematic grouping of content, with each section ideally having a heading.<article>represents a separate composition that is separately distributable or reusable.<aside>contains content indirectly related to the main content, such as sidebars.<footer>provides closing information for a section or an entire page.
In addition to these elements, the elements<div> used to logically divide content or for styling purposes using CSS or ID classes. They become especially useful when controlling layouts with CSS Flexbox or Grid systems, as they can be customized with various display properties to effectively align and distribute your content.
Within sections, organize your textual content using headings (<h1> until<h6> ) that indicate importance and structure so that you follow the correct hierarchy for easy navigation and understanding. For lists of items, HTML offers sorted (<ol> ) and disordered (<ul> ) lists together with descriptive lists ( <dl> with<dt> for the expression a<dd> for its definition). Using these lists promotes a readable and organized display of points or data.
If your content contains tabular data, using the element is key<table> . With it, you can structure data into rows and columns, making it easier to read and understand. Don’t forget to use <th> for headers, <tr> for table rows, <td> for table data and optional elements like <caption>, <thead>, <tbody> a <tfoot> for further description and structuring of table contents.
By considering this hierarchy and pairing it with the appropriate attributes and style, you can create a well-organized website that enhances the user experience and promotes effective communication of information.
Links and navigation
Efficient web navigation allows users to quickly find the information they need. This is essential for a smooth user experience on the website. In this section, you’ll learn about creating hyperlinks, using image maps, and navigating within a single page using various elements and attributes.
Creation of hyperlinks
Hyperlinks, or simply links, are the backbone of web navigation, allowing you to link different pages and resources. To create a hyperlink, use the element<a> with the attributehref , which defines the destination URL. Here’s how you can create a link to another site:
<a href="https://www.example.com">Navštívte example.com</a>You can use to link to an email address or phone numbermailto: atel: within the attributehref :
<a href="mailto:someone@example.com">Odoslať e-mail</a>
<a href="tel:+1234567890">Zavolajte nám</a>Attributetarget can control how a new document is opened. For example, usingtarget="_blank" the link will open in a new tab:
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Example.com na novej karte</a>Pictorial maps
An image map allows you to link different parts of an image to different targets. Use a marker to create a picture map<img> with the attributeusemap and pair it with an element<map> containing elements<area> for each clickable area.
Here is the basic code structure for the image map:
<img src="image.png" usemap="#imagemap">
<názov mapy="imagemap">
<area shape="rect" coords="34,44,270,350" href="page1.html" alt="Strana 1">
<tvar oblasti="kruh" coords="345,45,60" href="strana2.html" alt="strana dva">
</map>In this examplecoords (coordinates) define sizes and positions of shapes andshape can berect ,circle orpoly for rectangle, circle or polygon.
Site navigation
Page navigation requires linking to specific anchors or IDs. Use the attribute to create these navigation pointsid on the elements you want to use as anchors. Then link to them using the attributehref with grid (# ), followed by the anchor ID.
An example of an anchor point and the link leading to it:
<a href="#section2">Prejsť na sekciu 2</a>
...
<h2 id="section2">Sekcia 2</h2>After clicking on the link, the browser jumps to the section of the page with the corresponding oneid . This method is used to create table of contents or navigate long articles.
The media
HTML media allows you to enrich your web pages by embedding different types of content, including images, audio, and video. These elements can enhance the user experience by providing visual aids and interactive content.
Inserting images
When you need to include images in an HTML document, use the element<img> . To do this, set the attributesrc to the URL of the image you want to display. Always include an attributealt , which will provide alternative text for screen readers or when the image cannot be displayed. For example:
<img src="cesta-k-vasmu-obrázku.jpg" alt="Popisný text o obrázku">To create a semantic grouping of images and their descriptions, wrap them in an element<figure> and use to describe the context<figcaption> :
<figure>
<img src="cesta-k-vasmu-obrázku.jpg" alt="Popis">
<figcaption>Váš popis nájdete tu.</figcaption>
</figure>Audio and video
Use the element to add audio files to your website<audio> . It has attributes likecontrols ,autoplay aloop to control playback.
<audio controls>
<source src="váš-audio-súbor.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
Váš prehliadač nepodporuje audio tag.
</audio>Add an element if you need to include subtitles or captions<track> .
Embedding video is similar to audio. Element<video> includes the same usability attributes.
<video ovláda slučku automatického prehrávania>
<source src="váš-video-súbor.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Váš prehliadač nepodporuje značku videa.
</video>
Object and iFrame
Use the element to embed different types of multimedia, such as Flash, PDF files, or another HTML document<object> . If the object contains parameters, include the elements<param> :
<object data="your-file.swf" width="400" height="300">
<param name="paramName" value="paramValue">
Váš prehliadač nepodporuje prvok object.
</object>Element<iframe> allows you to embed external resources such as videos, maps or a website on your site:
<iframe src="http://www.example.com" width="600" height="400">
Váš prehliadač nepodporuje prvky iframe.
</iframe>Element size<iframe> you can specify using attributes likewidth aheight or using CSS.
Forms and user inputs
In HTML, forms are essential for capturing and processing user input, and understanding their structure and capabilities is key to creating interactive web applications.
Basics of forms
When you create an HTML form, you wrap the input elements in a tag<form> . Using different form elements allows you to collect different information from users. The form usually consists of:
<input>: basic building block for data entry.<label>: provides a descriptive label for each entry, improving accessibility.<textarea>: allows entering multi-line text.<button>: submits or refreshes the form or executes custom JavaScript.<select>: creates a dropdown list with elements<option>as options.<fieldset>: groups related inputs and<legend>you provide the caption.
For each form element, specific HTML attributes define its behavior and appearance. For example, an attributetype in the element<input> specifies the type of data to be collected, such astext ,email orpassword .
Input types
Input types determine what type of data fields appear on the form. Here are the commonly used types<input> and their purposes:
text: Enter plain text.password: masks your input to protect personal data.submit: sends the form data to the server.reset: Resets the form to its original state.checkbox: Allows selection of multiple options.radio: Allows you to select one option from a group.file: Allows you to upload files.hidden: Stores data that is not visible to the user but is sent along with the form submission.image: Works as a buttonsubmit, but it appears as an image.dáte,month,range,search,url,email,tel,number,color: Input types that facilitate the entry of particular standardized formats or provide controls such as sliders for range selection.
Other attributes that control these elements includemin ,max ,maxlength ,pattern a required , which offer additional restrictions and rules for user input.
Client-side validation
HTML5 introduced the ability to perform client-side validation, providing immediate feedback to the user and reducing server load. The following attributes are used for this purpose:
required: The field must be filled before sending.pattern: input must match a specific regular expression pattern.minamax: Set minimum and maximum values for numeric inputs.maxlength: Limits the number of characters for text inputs.
To enhance the user experience, HTML5 also brought attributes likeplaceholder ,autofocus ,readonly adisabled , which control interactivity and suggest hints to users or store pre-filled information without allowing for editing. By leveraging these validations and attributes, you can guide users in providing the correct data and modify form data before it reaches the server.
Advanced features
Once you get beyond the basics of HTML, you’ll encounter a number of advanced techniques and features that can greatly improve your web projects.
HTML APIs
HTML5 comes with several APIs that expand the horizons of what’s possible in the browser. The Geolocation API allows your web applications to access a user’s geographic location, improving location-based services.
Drag and Drop and File API improve the user interface by making working with files intuitive. By leveraging local and session storage, you can store data permanently or for the duration of a page session, which is ideal for web applications that need to maintain state without server-side control.
Web Workers allow scripts to run in the background without affecting page performance.
- Examples of the API interface in practice:
- Use local storage to store user preferences.
- Implement Web Workers to process data without interrupting the user experience.
HTML and Javascript
JavaScript acts as the programming backbone that brings your HTML code to life. By manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM), JavaScript enables the creation and modification of dynamic content.
Events likeonclick ,oninput ,onload aonsubmit allow you to respond to immediate user interactions using event handlers . They make your user interface more interactive and responsive to user actions.
- Event handlers are used to:
- Triggering an animation or notification for user actions.
- Validate form input when user types using
oninput.
HTML and CSS
CSS shapes the look and feel of HTML on a web page, enhancing its presentation with styles and design elements. Introduce responsive web design using media queries to adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions.
CSS flexbox and grid provide modern layout options that are responsive and flexible for any device. Enhanced features such as CSS animations create an engaging and interactive user experience. Use link tags to include external styles and inline attributesstyle to apply quick and specific changes to elements.
- Responsive design uses:
- Media queries to adapt to different screen sizes.
- Flexbox and grid systems for fluid and dynamic layouts.
By understanding and applying these advanced topics, your web development skills can progress from creating basic websites to creating sophisticated, interactive and responsive web applications.
HTML Best Practices
When creating HTML pages, following best practices are key to optimizing SEO, ensuring accessibility, and improving website performance. Your attention to these details affects your site’s user experience and search engine ranking.
SEO optimization
Proper SEO starts with semantic HTML . Use heading tags (<h1> until<h6> ) to hierarchical content structure and metadata elements like<title> a<meta> to describe the content of your site. Make sure the links are descriptive and make good use of the attributerel , while URLs must be clear and well-structured. Implement the following:
- Page Title: Always define unique and descriptive
<title>for each page. - Metadata: Keywords and descriptions in tags
<meta>they should reflect your content. - Heading Tags: Use only one
<h1>to the page and behind it<h2>–<h6>as needed for the structure. - Alt text: Include descriptive alt text for images so search engines can understand them.
Guidelines for accessibility
Make your website accessible to everyone according to the Accessibility Guidelines . Use ARIA roles and properties when needed (Accessible Rich Internet Applications ) and ensure error-free navigation using the keyboard. Here are the key elements to focus on:
- Alt Text: Provide alt text for images.
- Language: Use the attribute to specify the language of the page
lang. - ARIA: Include attributes
roleaaria-*to improve accessibility. - Keyboard Navigation: Make sure all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard with
tabindex.
An example of a navigation link available using the keyboard:
<a href="https://example.com" tabindex="0">Domov</a>
Tips to increase performance
The speed of your website is an aspect of the user experience that cannot be overlooked. To increase performance:
- Minification: Reduce the size of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files with minification .
- Compression: Enable gzip or Brotli compression on your server.
- Lazy loading: Implement lazy loading for images and iframes.
- Async/Defer: Use attributes
asyncordeferin script tags to control the JavaScript loading process.
For scripts that will be needed later:
<script src="script.js" defer></script>
Following these best practices for HTML structure will greatly impact the usability, ranking, and overall performance of your website.
Tools and resources
When you start learning HTML, you’ll equip yourself with the right tools and resources to simplify your development process. These include HTML editors for writing code, browser developer tools for testing and debugging, and ready-to-use HTML templates to jumpstart your projects.
HTML editors
By choosing an HTML editor with features like syntax highlighting , auto-completion, and error detection, you can greatly increase your coding efficiency.
Text editors like Sublime Text and Atom offer a lightweight yet powerful environment for coding. On the other hand, integrated development environments ( IDEs ) such as Visual Studio Code and WebStorm provide richer options with integrated debugging tools. and source code management.
- Sulime Text : A versatile text editor known for its speed and efficiency.
- Atom : An open source text editor with an extensive library of extensions.
- Visual Studio Code : A popular, free IDE that supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more.
- WebStorm : A professional IDE tailored for web development.
Tools for browser developers
Your browser’s developer tools are essential for examining and tuning your HTML code in real time. Use Inspect Element to dive into the DOM tree, JavaScript testing consoles , Information grid to monitor resource loading, and Performance data to optimize page speed. For debugging purposes, these tools are invaluable.
- Google Chrome : Developer tools that offer extensive features for web development.
- Firefox : Developer tools with unique features such as the grid layout inspector.
- Safari : Developer tools for web developers using Apple devices.
HTML templates
Save development time with HTML templates , which are standards that often include CSS and JavaScript styles to create a specific layout or theme. These templates can range from simple starter layouts to complex frames and themes suitable for heavy customization.
- Bootstrap : a framework providing templates that are mobile-friendly and customizable.
- W3.CSS : Modern CSS framework with built-in responsive templates.
- HTML5 UP : A collection of free responsive HTML5 and CSS3 templates.
By using these tools and resources, you will be better prepared to create well-structured websites and have a smoother development.
Learning and community
Starting to learn HTML opens the door to web development where you can build your skills, get support from a huge community, and take advantage of tons of resources. Below you will find specific ways to improve your learning through practice, documentation and structured courses.
HTML exercise
Regular practice is necessary to master HTML. Engage in interactive exercises and try real-world examples to reinforce your understanding. Platforms like W3Schools offer a “Try It Yourself” editor that allows you to write HTML code and see immediate results.
Additionally, consider contributing to GitHub projects or answering questions on Stack Overflow to hone your skills even further.
Online resources and documentation
Documentation is the foundation for learning HTML. Reputable resources such as MDN Web Docs provide comprehensive guides and references. They ensure you have accurate and up-to-date information about elements, attributes and best practices. MDN’s tutorials and examples are a key reference point for both beginners and experienced developers.
HTML courses
Investing time in an HTML course can make your learning more efficient. Many programs offer structured learning, from introductory tutorials to more advanced topics. Upon completion, some courses may provide a certified credential that can benefit your career advancement.
Codecademy , Udemy and other online platforms offer curriculum to strengthen your web development skills in a structured way. In addition, creating an account on these platforms will allow you to track your learning progress and access various assessments to test your knowledge.
