HTML

The markup language that structures every web page.

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Overview

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) describes the structure and meaning of content on the web: headings, paragraphs, links, images, forms. Every browser, screen reader, and search engine reads HTML first -- it's the layer everything else builds on.

What it is: A markup language of nested elements (tags) that describe content and structure.
Why it's used: It's the only structural language browsers natively understand -- there is no alternative.
Where it fits: The first layer of any web page, before CSS (appearance) or JavaScript (behavior) are added.

Core concepts

Elements and attributes
Semantic tags (nav, main, article, section)
Forms and input types
Accessibility: alt text, labels, headings order
The DOM tree

Example

Semantic tags like <article> and <h2> describe meaning, not just appearance -- this matters for accessibility and SEO alike.

<article>
  <h2>Post title</h2>
  <p>Body text.</p>
  <a href="/next">Read more</a>
</article>

Common use cases

Every web page
Email templates
Server-rendered app output

Project ideas

A semantic single-page resume
A form with proper labels and validation attributes

Official references

MDN: HTML