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Web pages are coded using a markup language called HTML. HTML is an acronym for HyperText Markup Language. HTML uses "tags" to instruct browsers, such as Netscape and Internet Explorer, where and how to place images and text on a Web page. You will need to learn some basic HTML tags in order to make Your Homepage.
There are only a few things (besides a little time) you will need to get started:
Getting Started
HTML is composed of tags that a Web browser interprets in order to
display Web pages.
All HTML tags begin and end with brackets <> , for example, <HTML> . The majority of HTML tags use both an opening and a closing tag, for example:
<TITLE> This is the opening tag.
</TITLE> This is the closing tag. Note that the closing tag contains a backslash.
This tutorial covers 5 main HTML tags. Four of these tags (and their closing tags) are REQUIRED in every page. All of these tags need to be used in the order they are presented here, every time.
It is necessary to memorize and understand the four required tags, because these are the most important tags in an HTML document. If they are missing or not ordered correctly, they can stop a Web page from loading.
Following is a very a basic page which you can type (or cut and paste) into your text editor to begin making Your Homepage. Start your text editor, and copy the example exactly as shown. Include all of the tags, in the same order. The example is followed by a description of each tag and directions for saving the file.
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
My Home Page
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
Welcome to my first web page.
<P>
I'm learning basic HTML tags.
</P>
</BODY>
</HTML>
<HTML> Identifies the file as an HTML document. This tag is REQUIRED.
<HEAD> Tells the browser that important information to be interpreted first (such as the title) is contained within it. This tag is REQUIRED.
<TITLE> Tells the browser to display its contents in the title bar at the top of the browser window. In this case "My Home Page." This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
</TITLE> Closes the title area. This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
</HEAD> Closes the HEAD area. This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
<BODY> Tells the browser that what follows is the body of the document. The body portion of the HTML document is where everything displayed on the Web page is located, including text, images, links, etc. ALL text and imaging tags MUST be enclosed within this tag. This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
<P> Tells the browser to start a new paragraph.
</P> Ends the paragraph tag.
</BODY> Closes the body area. This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
</HTML> Ends the HTML document. This is REQUIRED for any HTML document.
Saving Your File
In your text editor, select File, then Save. Name your file index.html
NOTE: All HTML documents must be saved with the extension .html or .htm.
Also, always name your main page "index" and if your text editor offers
a choice of formats, choose one of these:
You may save your file on your hard drive or on floppy disk. Just remember where you stored it. You'll need it later.
Testing Your HTML File
To test your file in a Web browser, open your browser and select File,
then Open File. Select the file you've saved. Click Here to see what your page should look like. NOTE: close the window after you have viewed it. If it doesn't look
like it should, read the questions and answers below.
NOTE: Remember when you make a correction on a page, be sure to
save it again and reload it on your browser using the Reload button on
Netscape or the Refresh button on Internet Explorer.
I've Got it working. Now What?
In order for users to see your homepage on the Internet, you need to
upload it on to your web server. Visit Uploading
1A for detailed instructions.
But, chances are good you want to add some pizzazz (and some information) to your web page before uploading it to the Web. You will find additional tutorials on the main tips and tools page, as well as a list of basic tags (which can be used within the <BODY> tag) below.
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