HTML Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide from Mozilla Developer Network

HTML, short for Hypertext Markup Language, is the backbone of every website on the internet. It is the standard markup language used to structure content on the web. Understanding HTML is essential for anyone looking to build and maintain a website. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the essentials of HTML as documented by Mozilla Developer Network (MDN), a trusted resource for web developers.

1. Introduction to HTML
HTML is not a programming language but a markup language. It uses tags to define the structure and layout of web content. The basic building blocks of HTML are elements, which consist of a start tag, content, and an end tag. These elements are nested to create a hierarchical structure.

2. HTML Document Structure
An HTML document starts with a doctype declaration, which informs the browser about the version of HTML being used. It is followed by the tag, which contains the entire document. The tag holds meta-information about the document, such as the title and character encoding. The tag contains the visible content of the webpage.

3. Text Formatting and Structure
HTML provides various tags to format and structure text. Headings are defined using the

to

tags, with

being the highest level heading. Paragraphs are created with the

tag. Other tags like , , , and are used for bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough effects respectively.

4. Links and Navigation
Links are an integral part of the web. HTML offers the tag to create hyperlinks. The href attribute specifies the URL to which the link points. Additionally, the target attribute can be used to control how the link opens, such as in a new tab or window. Navigation menus can be created using unordered lists (