Introduction

What is HTML?

HyperText Markup Language

HTML is a set of tags that defines the structure and appearance of Web documents. HTML source code is written in plain-text.

• HyperText
• nonlinear linking
• connects many separate pieces of information
• other text documents
• pictures, graphs, sound, other multimedia
• interfaces with databases, email, FTP, other Internet applications


• Markup Language
• defines the structure and appearance of Web documents
• does not provide full layout control
• not "programming"
• a set of markup "tags"
• an evolving standard and growing tagset (HTML 3.2, HTML 4.0)


• HTML can be created/edited by many programs, including:
• plain-text editors like Notepad and Kedit
• word-processing programs like Microsoft Word and WordPerfect
• hypertext editors like Lightning HTML Editor and Allaire HomeSite
• visual web-authoring programs like Netscape Composer, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Claris Home Page

TIP: You can learn HTML by example, by looking at the HTML code of any Web page that catches your eye; just select Page Source from your browser's View pull-down menu or right-click anywhere and choose View Source.

What is the role of the Web browser?

• Downloads text, image and other hypermedia information
  
  
• Browser is the HTML formatter
  • parses the document
  • "renders" the HTML
    
    
• Make it a goal to write browser-independent HTML code
  
  

Graphics formats for the Web

• Sources
  • Scanned images
    
  • Created in image editing applications
    
  • Obtained from public domain Internet image archives
    • McCannas.Com Free Art Site
    • Barry's ClipArt Server
    • To download/copy an image, right-click on it and save
  • Obtained with copyright clearance
    
    
• Formats
  • JPEG -- for photos an continuous-tone images
• GIF -- 256 colors maximum. for solid colors and transparent GIFs
• PNG -- a new format, better than GIF, but still limited browser-support

Last Modified: June 8, 1999 – Instructional Technology Lab