HTML Basics
DEFINITIONS:
HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language)
- HyperText refers to the ability to present linked documents together in a non-linear fashion.
- Mark-up refers to using tags to define the presentation of the content
- Language means there a grammar to the tags
Http (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) & Ftp (File Transfer Protocol)
- A protocol is a set of computer instructions defining how networked computers should talk with one another. Http is used for transferring Internet files that are to be viewed by an application, such as a browser. Ftp is used for transferring files from one computer to another, without viewing them. ftp is faster, since the content itself does not need to interpreted at the destination
WYSWIG (What You See Is What You Get)
- Refers to applications that allow you to layout HTML pages visually instead of by handcoding. Macromedia DreamWeaver, Microsoft FrontPage, and Adobe GoLive are WYSWIG applications.
KEY CONCEPTS:
CREATING HTML DOCUMENTS:
- Write HTML using a text editor such as Notepad in Windows or Simple Text on a Mac.
- You view your HTML files in a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
- Every time you edit your HTML file, you must "SAVE" the file in the text editor and then refresh it in the browser.
ANATOMY OF AN HTML TAG:
- Almost every tag has a beginning and an end. You must close tags in the opposite order that you open them, like Russian dolls.
- All beginning HTML tags begin with a left angle bracket, have a single word name, and end with a right angle bracket. Example: <html>
- All ending HTML tags begin with a left angle bracket, have a single forward slash, the same name as the opening tag, and end with a right angle bracket. Example </html>
ABSOLUTE REFRENCES
- An absolute reference tells you how to get a file from almost anywhere. Examples:
Absolute URL address: http://www.playinmantis.com/index.html
Absolute file address: file:///HD/1matthew/web/playinmantis.com/index.html
NEW HTML TAGS: