HTML

HTML

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language.
HTML files are basically special text files:

• Contain special control sequences or tags that control how text is to be formatted.
• HTML files are the ``source code'' for Web Browsers
  • A browser reads the HTML file and
  • Tries to display it using the tags to control layout.

Tags exist to control various display items:

• Titles
• Heading Levels
• Styles of font (e.g Bold, Italic)
• Lists and list items
• Hypertext links to other URLs and files.

Hypertext Terminology

Below is listed some common terms you will need to become familiar with:

Page

- Refers to a single HTML file. Sometimes referred to as a document

Home page

- Refers to a designated entry point for access to a local web

Hot spot

- A region of displayed hypertext that, when selected, links the user to another location

web

- A set of hypertext pages considered to be a single work

Web or WWW

- the union of all hypertext on all Web servers worldwide

Creating HTML Documents

HTML files are Plain text (ascii) format, created using any text editor.
Many WYSIWYG HTML editors exist, e.g. Claris Home Page, Macromedia Dreamweaver. Netscape Communicator also has a built in editor.
It is however recommended that you at least learn the basics of HTML tagging before you dive into WYSIWYG editing as this mask the programming issues and ultimately hinders the learning process.