HTML Tutorial
1. Introduction
[this page | pdf | back links]
Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML) is one of the three main components of modern
webpages, along with Cascading Style
Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript.
HTML indicates to the browser what elements should be
included in the webpage (and in what order). CSS indicates how each element should
be styled. JavaScript provides a means for webpage authors to manipulate these
elements programmatically and in response to actions by the end user. Tutorials and reference material covering all three
components are available here.
In these pages, we
describe HTML further. Text used within HTML, CSS or JavaScript files is
generally shown in courier new (i.e.
a fixed space) font. The pages contain links to an
extensive body of reference material explaining HTML, CSS and JavaScript in
detail. We also provide a wide range of examples,
which can help you understand better how HTML, CSS and JavaScript work. See
below for further details on how to access these examples.
The concept of a markup
language is explained further here. A document
written in a markup language like HTML has parts that get rendered in the
eventual output, but also parts that inform the rendering software how to
interpret the remaining text. ‘Rendering’ here refers to the process of
transforming the text document containing the HTML text into e.g. its visual
representation on a screen.
The markup used by HTML includes
tags, like <p>…</p>,
to demarcate different HTML
elements within the same webpage. In this case the <p> tag opens the relevant element and the </p> closes it. <p> elements are typically used
to delimit paragraphs in HTML. HTML elements can be nested within other
elements. Most elements can also be qualified by a range of attributes. For
example, if we want to make the text within a <p>
element appear red we can ascribe it a CSS style, along
the lines of <p
style="color:red;">.
Over time HTML has been
refined. At the time of writing the latest version is HTML 5. Some aspects of
earlier versions of HTML are no longer recognised in HTML 5 and some of these
are noted where relevant.
Tutorial contents:
1.
Introduction
(i.e. this page)
2.
Getting
started
3.
Carriage
returns and thematic break lines
4.
Commenting
5.
Special
characters
6.
Hyperlinks
7.
HTML
elements (and their attributes)
8.
Browser
feature detection
To access HTML, CSS or JavaScript examples please go to
the webpage on www.nematrian.com that covers the specific feature you are seeking help
with.
Disclaimer: Whilst we have made efforts to check the
accuracy of the material in these pages, you should note that HTML, CSS and
JavaScript are evolving languages. Information contained in this document may
therefore be inaccurate or out-of-date. You should not rely on the accuracy or
fitness for purpose of any material that you obtain from the Nematrian website
(or from its associated web services). If you need these results to be accurate
or fit for purpose then you should seek independent corroboration of whatever
you extract from the Nematrian website. Whilst using the site, users may be
directed to the websites of other organisations, over which Nematrian may have
no control and for which it takes no responsibility. A copy of the current
Nematrian Web Services License Agreement can be viewed here.
NAVIGATION LINKS
Contents | Prev | Next | HTML