HTML

What is HTML?

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is like a special set of instructions that tells computers how to show web pages. When you open a website, your computer uses HTML to build what you see — like text, pictures, and buttons.

How Does HTML Work?

HTML uses tiny words called tags to give instructions. These tags are hidden when you look at a web page, but they help the computer understand what to show. For example, a tag can tell the computer, “This is a big heading,” or “This is a picture.”

When you type a web address, your computer asks a faraway computer called a web server for the web page. The server sends the page, which has HTML inside it, to your computer. Your computer then reads the HTML and shows you the page.

Why Do We Use HTML?

HTML helps make the internet easy to use. It lets website makers add many things to pages, like:

• Text — headings, paragraphs, and lists
• Pictures — photos and drawings
• Links — buttons that take you to other pages

HTML also works with two other important tools:

• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) — makes pages look pretty and organized
• JavaScript — adds fun features like games or moving pictures

A Little History

A smart scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML in 1989. He wanted a way for scientists to share information easily. He made the first web browser and web server too. Since then, HTML has grown and changed, but it still helps us make the internet a place where we can learn, play, and connect.

Fun Fact

Did you know that HTML files usually end with .html? That little piece of text at the end tells your computer, “This is an HTML file!” Just like how a puzzle piece fits in a certain way, this ending helps your computer know how to read the file.