What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create webpages. It defines the structure, layout, and elements that make up a website — such as text, images, links, videos, and forms.

Let’s break the term down:

HyperText: Refers to text that contains links (called hyperlinks) to other web pages. These links connect different pages and make website navigation possible.
Example: <a href="about.html">About Us</a> connects one page to another.
Markup Language: Means using tags to “mark up” content so that browsers know how to display it.
Example: <h1> for headings, <p> for paragraphs, <img> for images.

Together, HTML tells the browser what to display, while CSS tells it how to display it (style, color, layout), and JavaScript adds interactivity.

Analogy:
If a website were a human body —

HTML is the skeleton (structure)
CSS is the skin and clothing (style)
JavaScript is the brain and muscles (behavior)

Note: HTML is the backbone of every website — it defines what appears on the page and how the content is arranged.

Why Do We Need HTML and What Is Its Importance?

We need HTML because it is the foundation of web development. Without it, browsers would not understand how to structure or display content.

Importance of HTML

Concept	Description
Basic Building Block	HTML is the starting point for all websites. Every web page you see — from Google to YouTube — is built with HTML.
Defines Structure	It organizes content using tags like `<header>`, `<section>`, `<article>`, `<footer>`, etc.
Supports Multimedia	HTML supports embedding images, videos, audio, and interactive elements (like `<video>`, `<audio>`, `<canvas>`).
Works with CSS & JavaScript	HTML handles structure, CSS handles design, and JavaScript handles interactivity — the three pillars of front-end development.
Universally Supported	Every modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) understands HTML, making it the universal web language.
SEO & Accessibility	Proper HTML structure improves SEO (search ranking) and accessibility for screen readers and users with disabilities.

Example: A Simple HTML Page

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>My First Webpage</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
  <p>This is my first paragraph using HTML!</p>
  <a href="https://learncodewithdurgesh.com/">Visit Example</a>
</body>
</html>

Output:

Displays a heading: “Welcome to My Website”
A paragraph below it
A clickable link “Visit Example”