## What Is HTML?? When you pick up your device and open a web page, do you often wonder how the pages come to display as they do — why this image is here and not there, or how the page is structured? Well, that’s where HTML comes in. Now you’ll ask the big question: **What is HTML??** **HTML (HyperText Markup Language)** is the standard language for structuring content on the web. It forms the skeleton of every webpage, defining what elements appear and how they are structured — including headings, paragraphs, links, forms, and more. Web browsers interpret HTML to display content as intended. HTML does **not** define style or behavior — that’s the job of **CSS** and **JavaScript**, respectively. Both of which will be thoroughly explained in other topics. --- ## What are HTML Elements?? HTML elements are the fundamental building blocks of an HTML document, defining the structure and content of a webpage. They consist of an opening tag, content, and a closing tag (though some elements are _"empty"_ and don't require a closing tag). These elements tell a browser how to display and interpret different parts of the webpage. **Structure of an element:** ```html Content goes here... ``` ### Examples of HTML Elements: - `

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` - `` - `` HTML uses these elements (tags) to wrap content, telling the browser how to interpret it. ### Element Categories: Type Example Tags Purpose Block-level `
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` Start on a new line, occupy full width Inline ``, ``, ``, `` Stay in line with surrounding text Void/self-closing ``, `
`, `` Do not require closing tags ## Anatomy of an HTML Element ```html
This is a paragraph.
``` - `
`: Opening tag - `This is a paragraph.`: Content - `
`: Closing tag ## Basic Document Structure Every HTML document must follow a base structure to ensure proper rendering: ```html Intro to HTML
Hello, HTML!

This is my first HTML blog post.
``` ### Breakdown: - ``: Declares the document as HTML5 - ``: Root element - ``: Metadata (not displayed on the webpage) - ``: Visible content goes here This structure must be in place — and in the right order — for the webpage to render successfully. ## Nesting Elements HTML nesting refers to the practice of placing HTML elements inside other HTML elements to create a hierarchical structure. This creates parent-child relationships between elements. HTML is hierarchical, so nesting matters. You should always properly nest elements to avoid rendering or accessibility issues, as it impacts how browsers render content and how assistive technologies interpret the page. ### Valid Nesting: ```html

Item 1

Item 2

``` ### Invalid Nesting: ```html

Item 1

``` ## Conclusion HTML is the foundation of every website. Whether you’re building a static page or a full-stack app, understanding how to properly structure and nest HTML is essential for building anything on the web. Ready to start your journey on building an interactive webpage??

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Hello, HTML!