Learning HTML is like learning another language, but it can be attained fairly quickly right from your computer. There are many tutorial programs that will teach you everything. HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and it is all about making your letter, list, or document readable, and positioned in a certain manner, by the computer. HTML created little "tags” that are attached to the written text, and is necessary if you want to design your own web page because the markup tags tell the Web browser how to display the page. It positions the text where you want it on the page. Without this markup language to "explain” the locations of text, it would simply appear in wrap style. An HTML file must have an htm. Extension on the file when it is created, to identify it and a file can be created by using a simple text editor. HTML is the universal markup language for the web, and it allows you to format text, add graphics, create links, input forms, frames and tables, etc., and save it so that any browser can read and display. The key is learning the tags which are used and this is what the tutorials will teach you - all the tags and their applications.

The tags are important and are used to markup the HTML elements which

are surrounded by two characters which direct it. The surrounding characters are called angle brackets, and would look like, '< and >'. These usually come in pairs, one at the beginning of the "element content” or the text, and one at the end, like '< b >' the house is on a hill '< /b >' This is a small glimpse into HTML. But the funny thing is, just like every other part of the computer world, there is now a "new” HTML called XHTML. So, just when you think you've got it - they come up with a better one! Doesn't it figure? Not to worry, there are tutorials for both types now on the web, so you can take your choice. The noticeable difference is that XHTML is somewhat cleaner and stricter than the HTML, but still very similar.

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