HTML: Building the Skeleton of a Webpage

HTML: Building the Skeleton of a Webpage

How a simple webpage comes to life? Think of HTML as the skeleton—structuring every element, from the header to the footer.

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2 min read

Hi techie, HTML is just like a building’s blueprint defines its foundation of an webpage, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) defines the structure of a webpage. It provides the foundation upon which styling (CSS) and interactivity (JavaScript) are built. Without HTML, your webpage would have no shape or form!

Why Use HTML for Structure?

HTML organizes content into a meaningful hierarchy, making it easy for browsers and users to interpret. Think of it as a skeleton that holds everything in place.

HTML Boilerplate Code (Blueprint)

A basic HTML file always starts with a boilerplate. It’s like your starter kit for every webpage.

Example of boilerplate code (Use Emmet shortcuts to generate it):

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"Doctype" tells the browser which version of HTML to use. In HTML5, it's just <!DOCTYPE html> — simple and elegant!

HTML Tags, Attributes, and Elements

  • Tags: Define the structure (e.g., <h1> for headings).

  • Attributes: Provide additional information about a tag (e.g., lang="en" in <html>).

  • Elements: The complete structure, including opening/closing tags and content.

HTML Document Structure

  1. <html>: The root element.

  2. <head>: Metadata (title, links, etc.).

  3. <body>: Visible content (headings, paragraphs, images, etc.).

Semantic vs. Non-Semantic Tags

  • Semantic Tags: Tags like header, section, aside, <article>, <nav>, <footer>, clearly describes their purpose.
    Example:

      <article>
        <h2>Blog Title</h2>
        <p>This is a blog post.</p>
      </article>
    
  • Non-Semantic Tags: Tags like <div> and <span> don’t convey meaning on their own. Use them only when no better alternative exists.

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Did You Know? Search engines prioritize semantic tags, as they improve accessibility and SEO rankings!
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