Getting Started with HTML: A Complete Beginner's Guide

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the foundation of every website on the internet. If you want to become a web developer, learning HTML is your first step. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to start writing HTML like a pro.

What is HTML?

HTML is a markup language that tells web browsers how to structure and display content. It uses a system of "tags" to define different elements on a page, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links.

Unlike programming languages like JavaScript or Python, HTML doesn't have logic or perform calculations. Instead, it describes the structure and content of a web page. Think of it as the skeleton of a website — it provides the basic structure that CSS (styling) and JavaScript (interactivity) build upon.

Setting Up Your First HTML File

Let's create your first HTML file. You can use any text editor, but we recommend using ProLiveEditor for instant live preview as you learn.

Basic HTML Structure

Every HTML document follows a standard structure:

    
    
    


    
Hello, World!

    
This is my first website.

Let's break this down:

• — Tells the browser this is an HTML5 document
• — The root element that contains all other elements
• — Contains metadata about the document (not displayed)
• — Contains all visible content on the page

Essential HTML Tags

Headings

HTML has six levels of headings, from

(most important) to

(least important):

Main Title

Section Title

Subsection Title

Sub-subsection Title

Minor Heading

Smallest Heading

Pro Tip: Use only one

per page for SEO purposes. It should describe the main topic of the page.

Paragraphs and Text

This is a paragraph of text.

This is another paragraph. Each paragraph starts on a new line.

For text formatting:

Bold text
Italic text
Highlighted text
Strikethrough text
Code snippet

Links

Links connect web pages together. Use the (anchor) tag:

Visit ProLiveEditor
About Us
Jump to Section

Key attributes:

• href — The destination URL
• target="_blank" — Opens link in a new tab
• rel="noopener noreferrer" — Security for external links

Images

Display images using the tag:

Always include:

• src — Path to the image file
• alt — Alternative text for accessibility and SEO

Lists

Unordered lists (bullet points):

    
First item
Second item
Third item

Ordered lists (numbered):

    
Step one
Step two
Step three

Semantic HTML

Semantic HTML uses meaningful tags that describe the content's purpose, not just its appearance. This improves accessibility and SEO.

Site header content


Main page content

Self-contained content

Thematic grouping

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to learn HTML is by writing code. Open ProLiveEditor and try:

• Create a simple webpage about yourself
• Add headings, paragraphs, and a list of hobbies
• Include an image and links to your social profiles
• Structure your page with semantic HTML

What's Next?

Once you're comfortable with HTML, move on to:

• CSS — Style and design your pages
• JavaScript — Add interactivity
• Responsive Design — Make sites work on all devices

Happy coding!