About HTML

What is HTML?

HTML stands for H yper T ext M arkup L anguage.

Hypertext: Text with links to more text
Markup: Code within a document that represents its intended structure
Hypertext Markup Language: A language used to describe structured documents which may have links to other documents.

This is the form in which Web pages are transmitted over the network: the language which Web browsers understand. Web browsers convert (render) HTML into a human-comprehensible form: ideally, any human-comprehensible form from graphical font renderings to speech and braille.

Where can I find some HTML?

HTML can be found on any web page. All the popular browsers have a View Source option, so if you find a page which does something you want to do, view the HTML source and see if you can work out how it was done.

How can I create or edit an HTML page?

Because HTML is stored in text files, you can use a basic text editor to create or change your HTML: Notepad or Write, edit.com, SimpleText, vi, ludwig: whatever you feel comfortable with. Alternatively, you can use a specialised HTML editor like Hot Dog, Netscape Navigator Gold, Amaya, or even Emacs html-mode, html-helper-mode, or psgml-mode.

How can I ensure my HTML is correct?

Because browsers vary in several ways, you cannot assume that your page will show up as you intended in other peoples' browsers just because it displays correctly in your own browser.

There are solutions to this problem:

Check your pages using (all) other browsers
Check your pages against the HTML standard

The ITS Web Team maintains a Web-accessible HTML checker which you can use to find subtle bugs in your HTML.

Where can I publish my HTML?

Check the Monash Web Servers page for information about getting your work published at Monash.

More information on HTML

The World Wide Web Consortium: The keepers of all Web standards
Composing Good HTML: Essential reading: keeping your HTML readable, navigable and device-independant.
Introduction to HTML: Dan Tobias explains what HTML is meant to be.
Web Design Group: Cascading Style Sheets: Times Roman and grey backgrounds grating on you? Style sheets are the best solution.
Yahoo: HTML: Index of web pages about HTML and related topics. Beginners may want to check out the Guides and Tutorials section.