What is HTML? Basics of Web Page Structure

In today’s digital era, creating a website is more accessible than ever. At the heart of every website lies HTML, a fundamental technology that defines the structure of a web page. But what is HTML as a skill, and why is it important for beginners, developers, and even designers to understand it?

This article explores the basics of HTML, its significance, and how to create a web page in HTML with examples and practical guidance. If you’ve ever wondered whether HTML is a programming language, how to use it, or what a webpage that contains codes looks like, you’re in the right place.

Table of Contents

🌐 What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create and structure content on the web. From “Hello World in HTML” to complex layouts, HTML defines elements like text, images, links, and multimedia.

If you’ve ever heard someone say that a webpage is a document that contains codes, they’re talking about HTML. It’s the foundational layer that browsers use to display web content.

🧠 Is HTML a Programming or Scripting Language?

A common question is: “Is HTML a programming language?” The answer is no. HTML is a markup language, not a programming or scripting language. It does not contain logic or control structures (like loops or conditionals) that you find in programming languages like JavaScript or Python.

So, to clarify:

❌ Is HTML a scripting language? – No.
✅ Definition of markup language: A system that uses tags to define elements within a document.

💡 Why Learn HTML?

HTML is easy to learn – It uses a simple, tag-based structure.
It’s the foundation of all websites.
Great entry point for web development beginners.
It helps in understanding how to design a web page using HTML and CSS.
You’ll know how to read an HTML file, which is essential even for non-coders in digital jobs.

🏠 Understanding the Home Page in HTML

The home page is typically the first page users see when they visit a website. Here’s an example of a simple HTML home page:

🔹 Sample HTML Code for a Website (Home Page)

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First Website</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to My Home Page</h1>
  <p>This is my first website using HTML!</p>
  <a href="about.html">Learn more about me</a>
</body>
</html>

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First Website</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to My Home Page</h1>
  <p>This is my first website using HTML!</p>
  <a href="about.html">Learn more about me</a>
</body>
</html>

You can use this code as a sample web page HTML code for beginners. This is often used in HTML and CSS beginner projects.

🧪 Hello World Code in HTML

Every journey begins with a “Hello”. Here’s your first step:

🔹 HTML Hello World Code

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Hello World</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
  </body>
</html>

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Hello World</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
  </body>
</html>

This simple hello world in HTML is the standard start for learners.

🔧 How to Create a Web Page Using HTML

If you’re asking: “How to create a webpage using HTML?” or “How to make a HTML website?”, follow these steps:

✅ Steps to Create a Simple HTML Web Page:

Open a text editor like Notepad or VS Code.
Write your HTML code.
Save the file with a .html extension (e.g., index.html).
Open it in a web browser to view your page.

🔹 Code for a Website:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My Portfolio</title>
</head>
<body>
  <header>
    <h1>Welcome to My Portfolio</h1>
  </header>
  <main>
    <p>I’m learning HTML and building my first website.</p>
    <img src="myphoto.jpg" alt="My photo">
  </main>
  <footer>
    <p>Contact me: email@example.com</p>
  </footer>
</body>
</html>

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My Portfolio</title>
</head>
<body>
  <header>
    <h1>Welcome to My Portfolio</h1>
  </header>
  <main>
    <p>I’m learning HTML and building my first website.</p>
    <img src="myphoto.jpg" alt="My photo">
  </main>
  <footer>
    <p>Contact me: email@example.com</p>
  </footer>
</body>
</html>

🎨 How to Design a Web Page Using HTML & CSS

HTML alone structures the page, but for design, you need CSS. Here’s a basic example:

🔹 HTML + CSS Beginner Project Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Stylish Web Page</title>
  <style>
    body {
      background-color: #f0f0f0;
      font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    }
    h1 {
      color: #3366cc;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>My Stylish Web Page</h1>
  <p>This is designed using basic HTML and CSS.</p>
</body>
</html>

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Stylish Web Page</title>
  <style>
    body {
      background-color: #f0f0f0;
      font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    }
    h1 {
      color: #3366cc;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>My Stylish Web Page</h1>
  <p>This is designed using basic HTML and CSS.</p>
</body>
</html>

This shows how to design a web page in HTML with basic styling.

📄 HTML Language Tutorial PDF

If you’re searching for a HTML language tutorial PDF, just look for files like:

filetype:pdf html tutorial (search in Google)
Or download free guides from platforms like W3Schools, MDN, or freeCodeCamp.

🤔 Is HTML Still Used in 2025?

Absolutely! Despite the evolution of web technologies, HTML is still used as the backbone of the internet. The most recent version, HTML5, is widely adopted. While many ask about HTML 6 release date, as of mid-2025, there is no official release. The HTML spec evolves incrementally.

Also, remember: HTML5 is very case sensitive language when it comes to attribute values and tag structure in strict parsing environments.

🎨 Cool HTML Codes for Websites

Here’s a quick snippet of cool HTML codes you can use:

🔹 Canvas Animation Example

<canvas id="myCanvas" width="200" height="100" style="border:1px solid #000;"></canvas>
<script>
  const canvas = document.getElementById('myCanvas');
  const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
  ctx.fillStyle = 'blue';
  ctx.fillRect(20, 20, 150, 50);
</script>

<canvas id="myCanvas" width="200" height="100" style="border:1px solid #000;"></canvas>
<script>
  const canvas = document.getElementById('myCanvas');
  const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
  ctx.fillStyle = 'blue';
  ctx.fillRect(20, 20, 150, 50);
</script>

Interesting fact: Canvas covered head forms are known as placeholders in digital art when practicing shape and shadows.

🔗 Type of Coding Used to Create Links

HTML uses the <a> tag to create links. Here’s how:

<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>

<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>

This demonstrates the type of coding used to create links in HTML.

🌐 Web Page to HTML – How to View Source Code

To see how a web page is a document that contains codes:

Right-click on a web page.
Select View Page Source.
You’ll see the HTML structure behind it.

You can even read an HTML file offline using any browser.

📌 Proper Markup Matters

Understanding the importance of using the proper markup language is essential. It ensures accessibility, SEO, and browser compatibility.

🧩 Which of the Following are Examples of HTML Objects?

<img> – Image object
<video> – Video player
<canvas> – Drawing surface
<audio> – Sound file player

These are all HTML objects used for rich web experiences.

🔄 Transitions in HTML

While HTML alone doesn’t handle transitions, in combination with CSS, you can use:

transition-property
transition-duration

So, the two elements always stated in a transition are the property and the duration.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is HTML difficult to learn?

No, HTML is easy to learn for beginners. It uses a tag-based system that’s intuitive and logical.

How to make HTML websites?

Start by creating .html files in a text editor and open them in your browser. Combine HTML with CSS and JavaScript for interactivity.

What is the importance of using the proper markup language?

Using proper markup ensures your site is accessible, search-engine friendly, and compatible across browsers and devices.

How to create a website page in HTML?

Write your HTML code in a .html file and structure your elements like headings, paragraphs, and images. Then open it in a browser.

What are some HTML and CSS beginner projects?

Personal portfolio site, Recipe card, Simple blog template, Interactive quiz page using HTML + JS