HTML is a text-based programming language that enables the standardized, structure-oriented writing of websites. The abbreviation stands for Hypertext Markup Language. When using HTML, the programmer writes the structure of the website in an HTML file. The focus is primarily on structure and format. Thus, for example, in addition to the mere insertion of texts and their color, size and font are set with. You can also include links to other web sites or subpages of the site.
It is also possible to record metadata about the content of the website. For example, some HTML files contain information about the authors of texts, the languages used, or a summary of the content of the website. In a web browser, the HTML file is read out and graphically displayed within milliseconds. In the past, HTML files were written almost exclusively by hand. Today, content management systems make it possible to use existing HTML building blocks and to build websites using pre-programmed templates without previous knowledge. As websites are getting more and more dynamic, programming alone with HTML is no longer enough. Progressive web design uses other programming languages such as CSS. Nevertheless, HTML is still used to structure a website.
An HTML file is divided into three parts: The document type declaration specifies which programming language is used. In the head, however, you will find technical and documentary information as well as metadata, which are not visible to users when they visit the website. The body of the HTML file contains the information that becomes visible when invoked in a browser.