Learn HTML

What is HTML?

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is a language that is used to put together web pages, but it has other uses such as in fancy Emails or Ebooks. It works with a browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox and uses symbols called tags to instruct the browser how to lay out text, graphics, sound etc. on a page.

There are tags to embolden text, choose the font type, colour it and much more, but a powerful property is that it can direct the browser to jump to another part of the page or to another page at the click of a mouse. This is the Hyper Text part and it is what makes it so useful.

You've seen this many times. You move the mouse pointer on an underlined 'link' or a graphic, and it changes to a pointing hand. Click the mouse and you're transported elsewhere. Magic!

HTML decides how you see this page; you will see it slightly differently with various browsers. It doesn't provide all the bells and whistles so beloved of page designers though, just a static display. The fancy animations and the like are done by other languages that are hosted by HTML.

Learn HTML

It is quite easy to learn HTML, at least initially, but unlike learning most things you start getting results straight away; it's very interesting and great fun!. Now, I could start in right now to teach you about it but others have done it already.

So I suggest that you go along to www.pagetutor.com (opens in new window) and have a look around. Joe Barta has a basic HTML course that you can download. It's entertaining, funny, and FREE!. There's plenty other stuff on Joe's site and there's real benefit in becoming a member for a one-time nominal sum. I've been a member for years.

Unless you get hooked (as you may) there's no need to go into HTML in depth; but a basic working knowledge is worthwhile and you'll never regret it.

There's a lot of meat in the course so my advice, as always, is to take it in easy stages. Once you've started the course you learn a bit, try a bit. In no time you'll feel on top. Then you can use the course as a reference as you go along.

Some of the uses of HTML

1) Making web pages or complete websites.
2) Making eBooks.
3) Writing fancy Emails.

On other pages you will find that there are other ways of producing HTML that don't seemingly need any knowledge of the language but don't be fooled. Sooner or later at least a basic knowledge of HTML will be needed.

Hey, ever seen a guy with the hood of his car up, scratching his head. Putting the hood up is his sum total knowledge of auto maintenance. Yet you can see why he has a problem immediately; one of the battery leads is off. Basic knowledge; but so necessary sometimes.

Start NOW to learn HTML then build a single page of your own. Try it! you'll like it.