Basic HTML Tutorial
By
Dustin
Wells
OVERVIEW
HTML is the standard programming language used for
building the content you see on web sites. With a
few very basic tools, you will be able to enhance
your dynamic content.
TAGS
HTML uses a set of text characters called "tags."
A tag is always enclosed in angle-brackets (< >).
The two main types of tags are an opening tag &
a closing tag. Tags almost always show up in pairs
(i.e. opening and closing tags) and are NOT case sensitive.
Ex. <tag>
.. </tag>
<tag> = opening tag
. = content between tags
</tag> = closing tag
The closing tag is identical to the opening tag in most
cases, but it adds a "/" before the text.
CHART OF TAGS
Below is a list of the most commonly used tags:
| Function |
Opening Tag |
Closing Tag |
| Line Break |
<br> |
* N/A |
| Bold Face |
<b> |
</b> |
| Italics |
<i> |
</i> |
| Edit the Font Color |
<font color="red"> |
</font> |
| Edit the Font Size |
<font size="3"> |
</font> |
| Edit font size and color |
<font size="3" color="red"> |
</font> |
| Link |
<a href="URL.com"> |
</a> |
* N/A = No closing tag is needed
USING TAGS
Examples:
HTML is FUN! = HTML is FUN!
<b> HTML is FUN!</b> = HTML is FUN!
<I> HTML is FUN!</I> = HTML is FUN!
<b><I> HTML is FUN!</I></b>
= HTML is FUN!
<font color="red">HTML is FUN!</font>
= HTML is FUN!
<b><font color="red">HTML is
FUN!</font></b> = HTML
is FUN!
NOTE: When using more than on tag to edit text,
you must close tags in the same order they were opened.
Tags must be balanced.
Example:
<b><font color="red">HTML is
FUN!</font></b>
Explanation:
This line opens with the <b> tag, which opens
the "Bold" attribute. Then, inside the <b>
tag, we open the <font> tag and set the color
to red. Since we opened the <font> tag inside
the <b>, we must close the <font> tag
first and then close the <b> tag. This is how
we keep things balanced.
A NOTE ON FONT SIZES & COLORS
Font Size:
In HTML, general font sizes range is 1 to 5. Following
is an approximate equivalent for MS Word font seizes.
HTML - MS Word
1 = 8 pt
2 = 10 pt
3 = 12 pt
4 = 16 pt
5 = 20 pt
Colors:
In HTML, colors are usually expressed in numbers and
letters (i.e. #0000FF). However, basic colors can
be expressed with color names (i.e. red, blue, black,
etc.). For more advanced colors, you must use the
HTML color code.
SUMMARY
Obviously there is a lot more to building a web site
than what is shown above. Use the above as a starting
place and have fun!
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Austin Data Works - Reprints by Permission Only.