Programming words

What is HTML?

HTML is the structure of a page. It says where the heading, paragraph, and button sit. CSS gives the color, and JavaScript gives the motion.

  • An opened tag is closed. A <p> paragraph ends with </p>.
  • The page starts with <html>. The visible part is inside <body>.
  • The browser reads the HTML and builds the page.

In an empty file <h1> is a heading and <p> is a paragraph. Until the browser sees a tag, it treats the words as plain text. If a tag is not closed, the text after it stays inside that tag.

Tool for this topic

Related guides

About this tool

HTML is the structure of a web page, defining where headings, paragraphs, and buttons sit. The page starts with <html>, and the visible part is placed inside <body>. The browser reads this code and builds the page. Until the browser sees a tag, it treats the words as plain text.

People need HTML when building web pages to establish proper layout and text organization. The underlying concept relies on tags: an opened tag must be closed, such as a <p> paragraph ending with </p>. If a tag is left unclosed, the text after it stays inside that tag.

How to use it

  1. Create an empty file and start the document with the <html> tag.
  2. Place the visible parts of your content inside the <body> tags.
  3. Add structural elements like <h1> for headings and <p> for paragraphs.
  4. Ensure every opened tag is properly closed to maintain correct formatting.

Common uses

Frequently asked questions

What is HTML?

HTML is the structure of a web page. It determines where headings, paragraphs, and buttons sit, allowing the browser to read the code and build the final page.

How do tags work in HTML?

Tags are instructions read by the browser. An opened tag must always be closed, meaning a paragraph starting with <p> must end with </p>.

What happens if a tag is not closed?

If a tag is left unclosed, all the text that comes after it will stay inside that specific tag, which can alter the intended page layout.