Chapter 3: Fundamental Knowledge of HTML and Related Technologies In the realm of dynamic web page development, whether it be JSP, ASP, or PHP, none can escape the influence of HTML. These dynamic technologies build upon static HTML pages by adding interactive content. HTML serves as the foundation for all dynamic web development technologies. The following sections will delve into a series of related technologies including HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. HTML consists of a set of tags that define the basic presentation format for web pages; JavaScript is a client-side scripting language responsible for user interaction in browsers; CSS is a stylesheet used to enhance the visual appeal of entire pages. This book does not aim to provide an exhaustive treatise on HTML but rather focuses on common knowledge necessary for entering web development quickly. For deeper exploration into HTML specifics, readers are encouraged to consult dedicated texts. 3.1 Basic Knowledge of HTML Among various web development technologies, HTML undoubtedly stands as the most fundamental element. Any dynamic language relies heavily on support from HTML. Therefore, before embarking on learning web development, readers should take time to solidify this foundational knowledge. 3.1.1 What is HTML? HTML (HyperText Markup Language) describes data within web documents accessible via URLs for information display and sharing purposes. Below is an example of a simple HTML document: //-------- File Name: First.html ------------------- Welcome! This is my first HTML document. In this document's structure you can see that every valid document includes pairs of tags which are essential in all instances—within these tags lie additional pairs such as and . The section contains metadata like title, keywords, encoding formats along with paths to any linked CSS or JavaScript files while content meant for display resides between tags—in our case simply stating "Welcome! This is my first html document." Hence there’s no other content between those body tags. Note: Generally speaking any tag capable of containing other elements appears in pairs—for instance here we have paired header info so they appear together whereas single-use line break tags do not require pairing since they contain no further information. 3.1.2 How Does HTML Work? The code seen above merely represents lines written out yet many perceive an ‘HTML Document’ solely as what one sees rendered through their browser interface when inputting addresses leading them directly toward corresponding webpages filled with diverse contents—the essence being that typed URL corresponds precisely with access path pointing towards some existing html file retrievable by browsers thus transforming raw codes into visually appealing representations akin shown earlier in Figure 3-1... and so forth.
