What is a Markup Language?
A markup language is a standard system for inserting tags into a text document to control its structure or format. Markup languages HTML is one of the most commonly used markup languages, along with SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) and XML (Extensible Markup Language).
A marked up document (e.g. an HTML document that represents a web page) includes both the content to be displayed and the markup defining how the content should be displayed to the user. When the page is displayed, the content is presented as defined by the markup, but the markup remains hidden.
How Does HTML Work?
HTML is a markup language that provides instructions for web browsers to display text, images, video, and other content as a structured web page.
Most web pages are saved as an HTML file on the host server. When you visit a web page, the host server sends the corresponding HTML file to your web browser. Your browser interprets the HTML file and renders it into the visual representation of the page that appears on your screen.
HTML is the primary language on which websites are based, but it’s not the only one. Most websites also use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to define the presentation, formatting, and layout of their pages, including things like fonts, font sizing, and colors. Many websites also use Javascript or other scripting languages to control the behavior of dynamic elements.
What are HTML Elements?
Elements are the building blocks of an HTML document. An element in HTML is comprised of three main parts:
- Opening Tag – The opening tag includes the name of the element and any attributes that may be assigned to it. Tags in HTML are wrapped in opening and closing angle brackets.
- Content – The content is the text whose structure or appearance is being defined.
- Closing Tag – The closing tag appears just like the opening tag, but with a forward slash between the opening angle bracket and the name of the element. Closing tags signify where an element ends in an HTML document.
There are approximately 130 different elements that can be defined in HTML, each with their own unique tag.