Hyper Text Markup Language
This is a programming language that allows computer browsers to see what an author has written. It is not very complicated so it is very easy to learn. When you are banging your head against the wall because the content on your page is not showing up where you want it to be located just sit back, relax and remember that HTML is Easy, HTML is Fun. We were all beginners at some point and believe me when I say we've been there.

Tags and Structure

All content in an HTML document is enclosed in tags. Most, but not all, of the tags will be in pairs. You will have an opening tag ( ) and a closing (/) tag for each part of our little puzzle. Notice that the closing tag has a forward slash in it? All of your closing tags will be written this way.

Tag Attributes

The basic construction of an HTML tag looks like this:

()NAME ATTRIBUTE="VALUE"()

The NAME of the tag will tell you what type of tag it is. In our example this will be a font tag. The ATTRIBUTE will determine what type of font tag we have. The font tag can change the size, type or color of the text it surrounds. The VALUE is the direct result of the ATTRIBUTE. Each ATTRIBUTE must have a VALUE.

All values must be enclosed in quotation marks. In our example:

()FONT SIZE="4"(/)

In the Beginning
()HTML()

()HEAD()

()TITLE()

(/)TITLE()

(/)HEAD()

()BODY()This is what everyone will see on your page

(/)BODY()

(/)HTML()

The very first tag is our opening ()HTML()tag. This must be placed at the top left hand corner of our page. Nothing, not even a space, can be placed before it. Our next tag is the opening ()HEAD() tag followed by the opening ()TITLE() tag. It is here that you place the title of your page. This title will not be seen by you but will be seen by the browser so it is very important. Our next tag is the closing (/)TITLE() tag followed by the closing (/)HEAD() tag. It is not important for you to know the function of the HEAD tag now. What is important is that you include it in your document. The function will be covered in a later lesson. The next tag is the all important ()BODY() tag. It is after this tag that all of the content of your page will be placed. When we are done adding content we have to tell the browser that we are finished so we do that with the closing (/)BODY() tag. To end our little puzzle we use the closing (/)HTML() tag.

This is the skeleton of your page. Every page on the web, no matter how fancy or high tech needs this basic setup. Notice the the opening and closing pairs. If you have copied this layout on a piece of paper... why not go into your file manager and and open a page. Go for it, don't be afraid. Open the Advanced Editor, click on new and start a page and you can work away at it as you go along with these lessons. Just make sure you save your work! Or if you want to see instant results scroll down to the HTML test bed I have installed. Simply put in your tags and content and press preview. Press reset to erase your work. See, HTML is easy and can be fun. We will learn what to place as content in our page in the next lesson.

¸·•HTML And Javascript Test-Bed¸•·