HTML is the standard markup language for creating Web pages.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language
HTML is the standard markup language for creating Web pages
HTML describes the structure of a Web page
HTML consists of a series of elements
HTML elements tell the browser how to display the content
HTML elements label pieces of content such as "this is a heading", "this is a
paragraph", "this is a link", etc.
A Simple HTML Document
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>
Example Explained
The <!DOCTYPE html> declaration defines that this document is an HTML5
document
The <html> element is the root element of an HTML page
The <head> element contains meta information about the HTML page
The <title> element specifies a title for the HTML page (which is shown in the
browser's title bar or in the page's tab)
The <body> element defines the document's body, and is a container for all the
visible contents, such as headings, paragraphs, images, hyperlinks, tables, lists,
etc.
The <h1> element defines a large heading
The <p> element defines a paragraph
What is an HTML Element?
An HTML element is defined by a start tag, some content, and an end tag:
<tagname> Content goes here... </tagname>
The HTML element is everything from the start tag to the end tag:
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
Start tag Element content End tag
<h1> My First Heading </h1>
<p> My first paragraph. </p>
<br> none none
Note: Some HTML elements have no content (like the <br> element). These elements
are called empty elements. Empty elements do not have an end tag!
Web Browsers
The purpose of a web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) is to read HTML
documents and display them correctly.
A browser does not display the HTML tags, but uses them to determine how to display
the document:
HTML Page Structure
Below is a visualization of an HTML page structure:
<html>
<head>
<title>Page title</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>This is a heading</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
<p>This is another paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>
Note: The content inside the <body> section will be displayed in a browser. The
content inside the <title> element will be shown in the browser's title bar or in the
page's tab.
HTML History
Since the early days of the World Wide Web, there have been many versions of HTML:
Year Version
1989 Tim Berners-Lee invented www
1991 Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML
1993 Dave Raggett drafted HTML+
1995 HTML Working Group defined HTML 2.0
1997 W3C Recommendation: HTML 3.2
1999 W3C Recommendation: HTML 4.01
2000 W3C Recommendation: XHTML 1.0
2008 WHATWG HTML5 First Public Draft
2012 WHATWG HTML5 Living Standard
2014 W3C Recommendation: HTML5
2016 W3C Candidate Recommendation: HTML 5.1
2017 W3C Recommendation: HTML5.1 2nd Edition
2017 W3C Recommendation: HTML5.2
This tutorial follows the latest HTML5 standard.
HTML Elements
An HTML element is defined by a start tag, some content, and an end tag.
HTML Elements
The HTML element is everything from the start tag to the end tag:
<tagname>Content goes here...</tagname>
Examples of some HTML elements:
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
Start tag Element content End tag
<h1> My First Heading </h1>
<p> My first paragraph. </p>
<br> none none
Note: Some HTML elements have no content (like the <br> element). These elements
are called empty elements. Empty elements do not have an end tag!
Nested HTML Elements
HTML elements can be nested (this means that elements can contain other elements).
All HTML documents consist of nested HTML elements.
The following example contains four HTML elements (<html>, <body>, <h1> and <p>):
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>
Example Explained
The <html> element is the root element and it defines the whole HTML document.
It has a start tag <html> and an end tag </html>.
Then, inside the <html> element there is a <body> element:
<body>
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
</body>
The <body> element defines the document's body.
It has a start tag <body> and an end tag </body>.
Then, inside the <body> element there are two other elements: <h1> and <p>:
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
The <h1> element defines a heading.
It has a start tag <h1> and an end tag </h1>:
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
The <p> element defines a paragraph.
It has a start tag <p> and an end tag </p>:
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
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Never Skip the End Tag
Some HTML elements will display correctly, even if you forget the end tag:
Example
<html>
<body>
<p>This is a paragraph
<p>This is a paragraph
</body>
</html>
However, never rely on this! Unexpected results and errors may occur if you forget
the end tag!
Empty HTML Elements
HTML elements with no content are called empty elements.
The <br> tag defines a line break, and is an empty element without a closing tag:
Example
<p>This is a <br> paragraph with a line break.</p>
HTML is Not Case Sensitive
HTML tags are not case sensitive: <P> means the same as <p>.
The HTML standard does not require lowercase tags, but W3C recommends lowercase
in HTML, and demands lowercase for stricter document types like XHTML.
HTML Attributes
HTML attributes provide additional information about HTML elements.
HTML Attributes
All HTML elements can have attributes
Attributes provide additional information about elements
Attributes are always specified in the start tag
Attributes usually come in name/value pairs like: name="value"
The href Attribute
The <a> tag defines a hyperlink. The href attribute specifies the URL of the page the link
goes to:
Example
<a href="[Link] W3Schools</a>
You will learn more about links in our HTML Links chapter.
The src Attribute
The <img> tag is used to embed an image in an HTML page. The src attribute specifies
the path to the image to be displayed:
Example
<img src="img_girl.jpg">
There are two ways to specify the URL in the src attribute:
1. Absolute URL - Links to an external image that is hosted on another website.
Example: src="[Link]
Notes: External images might be under copyright. If you do not get permission to use it,
you may be in violation of copyright laws. In addition, you cannot control external
images; it can suddenly be removed or changed.
2. Relative URL - Links to an image that is hosted within the website. Here, the URL
does not include the domain name. If the URL begins without a slash, it will be relative
to the current page. Example: src="img_girl.jpg". If the URL begins with a slash, it will be
relative to the domain. Example: src="/images/img_girl.jpg".
Tip: It is almost always best to use relative URLs. They will not break if you change
domain.
The width and height Attributes
The <img> tag should also contain the width and height attributes, which specify the
width and height of the image (in pixels):
Example
<img src="img_girl.jpg" width="500" height="600">
The alt Attribute
The required alt attribute for the <img> tag specifies an alternate text for an image, if the
image for some reason cannot be displayed. This can be due to a slow connection, or an
error in the src attribute, or if the user uses a screen reader.
Example
<img src="img_girl.jpg" alt="Girl with a jacket">
Example
See what happens if we try to display an image that does not exist:
<img src="img_typo.jpg" alt="Girl with a jacket">
You will learn more about images in our HTML Images chapter.
The style Attribute
The style attribute is used to add styles to an element, such as color, font, size, and
more.
Example
<p style="color:red;">This is a red paragraph.</p>
You will learn more about styles in our HTML Styles chapter.
The lang Attribute
You should always include the lang attribute inside the <html> tag, to declare the
language of the Web page. This is meant to assist search engines and browsers.
The following example specifies English as the language:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<body>
...
</body>
</html>
Country codes can also be added to the language code in the lang attribute. So, the first
two characters define the language of the HTML page, and the last two characters
define the country.
The following example specifies English as the language and United States as the
country:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en-US">
<body>
...
</body>
</html>
You can see all the language codes in our HTML Language Code Reference.
The title Attribute
The title attribute defines some extra information about an element.
The value of the title attribute will be displayed as a tooltip when you mouse over the
element:
Example
<p title="I'm a tooltip">This is a paragraph.</p>
We Suggest: Always Use Lowercase
Attributes
The HTML standard does not require lowercase attribute names.
The title attribute (and all other attributes) can be written with uppercase or lowercase
like title or TITLE.
However, W3C recommends lowercase attributes in HTML, and demands lowercase
attributes for stricter document types like XHTML.
At W3Schools we always use lowercase attribute names.
We Suggest: Always Quote Attribute Values
The HTML standard does not require quotes around attribute values.
However, W3C recommends quotes in HTML, and demands quotes for stricter
document types like XHTML.
Good:
<a href="[Link] our HTML tutorial</a>
Bad:
<a href=[Link] our HTML tutorial</a>
Sometimes you have to use quotes. This example will not display the title attribute
correctly, because it contains a space:
Example
<p title=Description of W3Schools>
At W3Schools we always use quotes around attribute values.
Single or Double Quotes?
Double quotes around attribute values are the most common in HTML, but single
quotes can also be used.
In some situations, when the attribute value itself contains double quotes, it is necessary
to use single quotes:
<p title='John "ShotGun" Nelson'>
Or vice versa:
<p title="John 'ShotGun' Nelson">
Chapter Summary
All HTML elements can have attributes
The href attribute of <a> specifies the URL of the page the link goes to
The src attribute of <img> specifies the path to the image to be displayed
The width and height attributes of <img> provide size information for images
The alt attribute of <img> provides an alternate text for an image
The style attribute is used to add styles to an element, such as color, font, size, and
more
The lang attribute of the <html> tag declares the language of the Web page
The title attribute defines some extra information about an element
HTML Headings
HTML headings are titles or subtitles that you want to display on a webpage.
Example
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4
Heading 5
Heading 6
HTML Headings
HTML headings are defined with the <h1> to <h6> tags.
<h1> defines the most important heading. <h6> defines the least important heading.
Example
<h1>Heading 1</h1>
<h2>Heading 2</h2>
<h3>Heading 3</h3>
<h4>Heading 4</h4>
<h5>Heading 5</h5>
<h6>Heading 6</h6>
Note: Browsers automatically add some white space (a margin) before and after a
heading.
Headings Are Important
Search engines use the headings to index the structure and content of your web pages.
Users often skim a page by its headings. It is important to use headings to show the
document structure.
<h1> headings should be used for main headings, followed by <h2> headings, then the
less important <h3>, and so on.
Note: Use HTML headings for headings only. Don't use headings to make
text BIG or bold.
Bigger Headings
Each HTML heading has a default size. However, you can specify the size for any
heading with the style attribute, using the CSS font-size property:
Example
<h1 style="font-size:60px;">Heading 1</h1>
HTML Tag Reference
W3Schools' tag reference contains additional information about these tags and their
attributes.
Tag Description
<html> Defines the root of an HTML document
<body> Defines the document's body
<h1> to <h6> Defines HTML headings
HTML Paragraphs
A paragraph always starts on a new line, and is usually a block of text.
HTML Paragraphs
The HTML <p> element defines a paragraph.
A paragraph always starts on a new line, and browsers automatically add some white
space (a margin) before and after a paragraph.
Example
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
<p>This is another paragraph.</p>
HTML Display
You cannot be sure how HTML will be displayed.
Large or small screens, and resized windows will create different results.
With HTML, you cannot change the display by adding extra spaces or extra lines in your
HTML code.
The browser will automatically remove any extra spaces and lines when the page is
displayed:
Example
<p>
This paragraph
contains a lot of lines
in the source code,
but the browser
ignores it.
</p>
<p>
This paragraph
contains a lot of spaces
in the source code,
but the browser
ignores it.
</p>
ADVERTISEMENT
HTML Horizontal Rules
The <hr> tag defines a thematic break in an HTML page, and is most often displayed as a
horizontal rule.
The <hr> element is used to separate content (or define a change) in an HTML page:
Example
<h1>This is heading 1</h1>
<p>This is some text.</p>
<hr>
<h2>This is heading 2</h2>
<p>This is some other text.</p>
<hr>
The <hr> tag is an empty tag, which means that it has no end tag.
HTML Line Breaks
The HTML <br> element defines a line break.
Use <br> if you want a line break (a new line) without starting a new paragraph:
Example
<p>This is<br>a paragraph<br>with line breaks.</p>
The <br> tag is an empty tag, which means that it has no end tag.
The Poem Problem
This poem will display on a single line:
Example
<p>
My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
My Bonnie lies over the sea.
My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
</p>
Solution - The HTML <pre> Element
The HTML <pre> element defines preformatted text.
The text inside a <pre> element is displayed in a fixed-width font (usually Courier), and it
preserves both spaces and line breaks:
Example
<pre>
My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
My Bonnie lies over the sea.
My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
</pre>
HTML Tag Reference
W3Schools' tag reference contains additional information about HTML elements and
their attributes.
Tag Description
<p> Defines a paragraph
<hr> Defines a thematic change in the content
<br> Inserts a single line break
<pre> Defines pre-formatted text
HTML Styles
The HTML style attribute is used to add styles to an element, such as color, font,
size, and more.
The HTML Style Attribute
Setting the style of an HTML element, can be done with the style attribute.
The HTML style attribute has the following syntax:
<tagname style="property:value;">
The property is a CSS property. The value is a CSS value.
Background Color
The CSS background-color property defines the background color for an HTML
element.
Example
Set the background color for a page to powderblue:
<body style="background-color:powderblue;">
<h1>This is a heading</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
</body>
Example
Set background color for two different elements:
<body>
<h1 style="background-color:powderblue;">This is a heading</h1>
<p style="background-color:tomato;">This is a paragraph.</p>
</body>
Text Color
The CSS color property defines the text color for an HTML element:
Example
<h1 style="color:blue;">This is a heading</h1>
<p style="color:red;">This is a paragraph.</p>
Fonts
The CSS font-family property defines the font to be used for an HTML element:
Example
<h1 style="font-family:verdana;">This is a heading</h1>
<p style="font-family:courier;">This is a paragraph.</p>
Text Size
The CSS font-size property defines the text size for an HTML element:
Example
<h1 style="font-size:300%;">This is a heading</h1>
<p style="font-size:160%;">This is a paragraph.</p>
Text Alignment
The CSS text-align property defines the horizontal text alignment for an HTML
element:
Example
<h1 style="text-align:center;">Centered Heading</h1>
<p style="text-align:center;">Centered paragraph.</p>
Chapter Summary
Use the style attribute for styling HTML elements
Use background-color for background color
Use color for text colors
Use font-family for text fonts
Use font-size for text sizes
Use text-align for text alignment
HTML Text Formatting
HTML contains several elements for defining text with a special meaning.
Example
This text is bold
This text is italic
This is subscript and superscript
HTML Formatting Elements
Formatting elements were designed to display special types of text:
<b> - Bold text
<strong> - Important text
<i> - Italic text
<em> - Emphasized text
<mark> - Marked text
<small> - Smaller text
<del> - Deleted text
<ins> - Inserted text
<sub> - Subscript text
<sup> - Superscript text
HTML <b> and <strong> Elements
The HTML <b> element defines bold text, without any extra importance.
Example
<b>This text is bold</b>
The HTML <strong> element defines text with strong importance. The content inside is
typically displayed in bold.
Example
<strong>This text is important!</strong>
HTML <i> and <em> Elements
The HTML <i> element defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood. The content
inside is typically displayed in italic.
Tip: The <i> tag is often used to indicate a technical term, a phrase from another
language, a thought, a ship name, etc.
Example
<i>This text is italic</i>
The HTML <em> element defines emphasized text. The content inside is typically
displayed in italic.
Tip: A screen reader will pronounce the words in <em> with an emphasis, using verbal
stress.
Example
<em>This text is emphasized</em>
HTML <small> Element
The HTML <small> element defines smaller text:
Example
<small>This is some smaller text.</small>
HTML <mark> Element
The HTML <mark> element defines text that should be marked or highlighted:
Example
<p>Do not forget to buy <mark>milk</mark> today.</p>
HTML <del> Element
The HTML <del> element defines text that has been deleted from a document. Browsers
will usually strike a line through deleted text:
Example
<p>My favorite color is <del>blue</del> red.</p>
HTML <ins> Element
The HTML <ins> element defines a text that has been inserted into a document.
Browsers will usually underline inserted text:
Example
<p>My favorite color is <del>blue</del> <ins>red</ins>.</p>
HTML <sub> Element
The HTML <sub> element defines subscript text. Subscript text appears half a character
below the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font. Subscript text can
be used for chemical formulas, like H2O:
Example
<p>This is <sub>subscripted</sub> text.</p>
HTML <sup> Element
The HTML <sup> element defines superscript text. Superscript text appears half a
character above the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font.
Superscript text can be used for footnotes, like WWW[1]:
Example
<p>This is <sup>superscripted</sup> text.</p>
HTML Text Formatting Elements
Tag Description
<b> Defines bold text
<em> Defines emphasized text
<i> Defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood
<small> Defines smaller text
<strong> Defines important text
<sub> Defines subscripted text
<sup> Defines superscripted text
<ins> Defines inserted text
<del> Defines deleted text
<mark> Defines marked/highlighted text
For a complete list of all available HTML tags, visit our HTML Tag Reference.
