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HTML Markup: What is HTML?
Originally Published: 2001-02-28
Updated: 2006
You have heard about it and know it is used on Web Sites . . . but what is it?
With the arrival of the Internet, a new generation of acronyms and abbreviations also appeared. Some people refer to bits of this as "Geek Speak" or "[Inter]net Slang". Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that HTML is an abbreviation. The full name being Hyper Text Markup Language, which is a mouthful.
Hyper: This word conjures mental images of activity, usually associated - but not limited - to a child. Tigger, from Winnie-The-Pooh stories, is another example of "hyper". He happily bounces from one activity to the next with the drop of a hat. On the Web, people are "hyper". They can move [or bounce] from one place to another with ease with sometimes not much more needed than a click of their mouse.
"Hyper" refers to activity that HTML can help produce for the users on both ends of its application. You can help others to continue bouncing along in their explorations of the Web by applying HTML to your content.
Text: All text files on the computer are usually ASCII - computers and servers exchange information encased in a special format. On your screen you see the result of this exchange process when this information appears as text for your eyes to feast upon.
When you create documents for your Home Page you are creating text files for others to enjoy through your Web site. The appropriate file extension used on HTML documents will be either .htm or .html.
Markup: The HTML effects are not visible on the text file itself. It lies dormant until viewed through a browser. The browser works to translate the additional text commands inserted into your informational text body. By inserting various HTML effects to structure the document, you are "marking up" the contents.
Language: You are informing the browser, in a dialect it understands, how to manipulate a document while "pulling it up" for viewing.
In essence, HTML is a form of computer language for use in structuring and laying out a text file document. HTML is what the browser looks for and tries to interpret by using the embedded information you supplied. You are informing the browser how to display the contents on that page. You will be able to hyperlink to other components to bring them into play on your page or offer hyperlinks to other sites on the Web.
Talk about feeling power flowing through your fingertips! You will be the god or goddess behind the creation of your site! A chance to imitate Steven Spielberg as you direct what goes where, how it will look, what colors should be present, and how large or small the contents will appear.
This means you have to learn about HTML along with the associated "do or don't" thoughts to its usage. This will result through applying what you have read about HTML.
It is similar to learning a foreign language. Recall your first day in a foreign language class in school? You didn't leave the classroom after that first session impressing others by speaking the language fluently. Likewise, you will not learn HTML overnight.
Recall, in that same class, the teacher would randomly call on students to recite some phrases or passages. Remember how you squirmed and tried to skulk down in your seat in hopes [s]he wouldn't call on you? Yet invariably, your name was called out to do your share of recitation. This helped you to further the learning process by applying, orally, what the teacher had discussed in class along with the textbooks' information.
With HTML, your learning increases when you try to work on a Web page. If there was a simpler way to learn HTML, I would gladly share it with you. Unfortunately there is not an easy work around available.
Nothing can replace the hands on experience of learning. This is one area where you learn from your mistakes and about patience. Once you reach a level of feeling comfortable with HTML, then you will find yourself having more fun creating documents for your site.