This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by CodeWithMishu
HTML is everywhere, yet most people don’t realize it.
Every website you visit, from Google to Instagram, uses HTML at its core. If you’re curious about how websites are built, learning HTML is the perfect first step.
In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn:
What exactly HTML is (and what it’s not)
How websites use HTML under the hood
The basic structure of an HTML document
How to preview your code live
Why developers use Chrome DevTools (Inspect Element)
Whether you're a coding newbie or just curious about how the internet works, this blog is for you.
📌 What is HTML?
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create the structure of web pages.
Think of HTML as the skeleton of a website—defining headings, paragraphs, links, images, and more.
It doesn’t “style” the website—that’s where CSS comes in. And it doesn’t handle logic—that’s JavaScript’s job.
At its core, HTML uses tags to define different parts of a webpage.
Example:
<h1>This is a Heading</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
🛠️ How Does HTML Work?
Write HTML Code: Using any text editor (like VS Code).
Save as
.htmlfile.Open in Browser: Double-click the file to preview your page.
When browsers read your HTML file, they render the structure visually—headings, paragraphs, images, etc.
🚀 The Boilerplate Code: Your Website’s Starting Point
Every HTML page needs a basic structure, called the HTML Boilerplate.
Here’s a simple example:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>My First Website</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Website!</h1>
<p>HTML makes this possible.</p>
</body>
</html>
Explanation:
<!DOCTYPE html>tells the browser you're writing in HTML5.Everything inside
<html>is your webpage.<head>contains invisible settings (like the title).<body>contains everything visible on your page.
💻 Live Preview: See Your Code in Action
Once you’ve written your HTML:
Save the file with
.htmlextension.Open it using any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
Your code turns into a visible webpage.
Want to see it step-by-step?
👉 Watch my full YouTube tutorial here where I explain live with examples.
🕵️♂️ Inspect Element: Chrome DevTools Magic
Ever right-clicked a website and clicked Inspect?
That’s Chrome DevTools in action.
With DevTools, you can:
See the HTML code behind any webpage.
Modify code live and preview changes.
Debug issues with your website’s structure.
It’s a powerful tool every developer uses daily.
🎯 Why Should You Learn HTML?
It’s the foundation of every website and web app.
No need for fancy setups—just a browser and text editor.
It’s easy to learn yet critical for web development careers.
It opens doors to CSS, JavaScript, and full-stack development.
📚 Next Steps: What to Learn After HTML?
CSS: Style your HTML structure.
JavaScript: Add interactivity to your website.
Frameworks (Optional later): React, Vue, or Angular.
🎥 Want Visual Learning? Watch the Video Tutorial
If you prefer video explanations with live code demos, I’ve got you covered.
👉 Watch: Introduction to HTML (with Boilerplate Code & Live Demo)
🏁 Final Thoughts
HTML is more than just code—it’s the gateway to building on the internet. Start small, build consistently, and soon, you’ll be creating websites that thousands can visit.
Have questions? Drop them in the comments below—I’m always happy to help beginners.
#webdevelopment #html #frontend #coding #programming #beginners #learntocode #hashnode
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by CodeWithMishu
CodeWithMishu | Sciencx (2025-07-21T15:37:14+00:00) What is HTML? Beginner’s Guide to the Language That Builds the Web. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/21/what-is-html-beginners-guide-to-the-language-that-builds-the-web/
Please log in to upload a file.
There are no updates yet.
Click the Upload button above to add an update.