HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language is used to create the visual objects on a webpage. As part of the iGCSE you are expected to have some experience of using HTML in order to discus how web pages are created, however you are not tested specifically on your ability to create the code.
This smaller set of lessons will guide you through creating an example website using HTML. You can use any text editor to create your HTML, but in these examples we have used the free Brackets software.
HTML is a markup language rather than a coding language. This means that it tells the browser what your webpage should look like, but doesn’t have the functionality of a programming language.
HTML uses tags to identify each of the objects on the web page. Tags are identified using angle brackets around them. For example, a paragraph uses a <p>. Each tag within the HTML has a start and an end tag – these are identified with an opening tag such as <p> and the closing tag which uses a forward slash </p>. Anything in between these two tags is enclosed within it and given all of the properties of that tag; in this case, a paragraph.
DIV tags are a usefull way to develop the layout of a webpage, especially with users who may want to view your webpage on different devices with different screen sizes.
The hypertext parts of HTML refers to the fact that original web pages were purely made up of text that was sent throughout the Internet. Developing the text of your web page is one of the most important parts and his divided into headings and paragraphs, each with their own specific tag.
Since the early 2000s Adding images to web pages has made them more attractive and supported the text that is on the pages much like a printed document. Unlike a printed documents, the images that we can add to our web pages can also contain basic animations like gifs and are added in exactly the same way as text by using a specific tag for an image.
Most users of websites now expect the web pages that they visit to be interactive rather than just static text and images. Using buttons allows the web developer to add interactive elements to the web page.
However, adding interactivity often means including additional script language such as JavaScript as HTML alone would not allow a button press to perform an action. JavaScript is a programming language although it is embedded into the HTML of a web page. Sometimes, JavaScript is described as a client side scripting language because it is translated using an interpreter inside the web browser.
Just like a printed document it is important to understand presentation on a web page. Adding additional styling elements such as alignment help the web developer to present the information on their web pages more clearly.
One of the newer developments for web pages and HTML since the launch of HTML5 has been the ability to add animation without including any additional plugins or scripts. Including extra animation of objects on the web page and help to highlight important information. However, it is also important to remember not to overuse animation as the web page can become messy and distracting.
Activity
Once you have created your webpage using the video tutorials above, upload your finished html file below for feedback from your tutor. If you have used extra files such as CSS or images, upload these as a zipped folder.