HTML is the most fundamental tool used for communicating on the World Wide Web. Short for "hypertext markup language," HTML is the "code" that makes up pages on the Internet. A highly versatile programming language, HTML was intended to be fast and flexible, allowing HTML documents to be disseminated across the country and around the world at a rapid pace. Anyone who wants to develop content for the Web would be wise to learn a thing or two about HTML programming. Luckily, the basics of HTML are also fairly easy, and HTML documents can be written with the word processing software you use every day. Ease of use, clean syntax, and low barriers to entry all make HTML a popular programming language. Millions of people all around the globe have learned it since its first release back in 1993.
The HTML standard was created at the beginning of Internet history. Since then, a number of other languages have been developed and popularized, and new standards have been launched that work alongside HTML. However, for most applications on the Web, HTML remains the foundation on which great results are built. Languages such as Java and tools such as cascading style sheets can be used to extend the capabilities of HTML, which has some basic limitations because it was conceived of as a platform-neutral way to share information. That means HTML documents should be readable to any browser on any computer - but using the right markup and delivery tools, practically anything you can imagine is possible with HTML. All of your favorite sites use HTML as a backbone, no matter what their design or content.
Although some languages have capabilities that HTML does not, experts have never stopped working on the HTML standard. Each and every year, skilled programmers meet to discuss the future of HTML. Independent developers have also been known to create languages that work similarly to HTML, building on its strengths or making it more compatible with users' emerging needs. For this reason, there are a number of languages that are fundamentally similar to HTML, such as XML. HTML itself has just entered into its fifth revision, known as HTML5, meant to work more readily on mobile phones and to smooth out other kinds of compatibility issues from earlier editions. As a newcomer to HTML, it's important to understand that it grows and changes over the years. Luckily, once you understand the basics, it is very easy to keep your skills up to date.
As the world of computing continues to evolve, odds are good that HTML will continue to grow with it. No technology is in sight that will supersede HTML, so it is a good idea to become familiar with it. Even if you someday move on to using tools that will do most website design work for you, knowing HTML will make it easy and efficient for you to optimize your efforts. HTML may seem complicated at first, but remember that you already have some of the most important resources for learning it! First comes the motivation to bring your ideas to life on the Web, and second comes the great resources you can use to learn HTML - all of them to be found online. To make your journey easier, check out the excellent resources below. They are sure to help you get a great start on your way to learning HTML.
History
For Beginners
Markup
Delivery
Variations of HTML