ELI5: what is html

What is HTML?

HTML is like a set of instructions you give to a computer to build a webpage, kind of like how you'd use LEGO instructions to build a specific structure [4]. It's a special language made up of simple commands that tell the web browser what to show on the screen [3].

Why do we need it?

HTML describes both what content goes on a page and how it should be organized, like labeling different parts of your homework - a title, paragraphs, pictures, and links [1]. Without HTML, web browsers wouldn't know what to display or how to arrange it.

What does it look like?

HTML uses special words called "tags" written in angle brackets, like <title> or <paragraph>, that wrap around your content to label what it is [3]. When you put tags around text, you're basically saying "this is a heading" or "this is a picture."

How does it work?

When you visit a website, your browser reads the HTML file and follows its instructions to show you the words, pictures, and links in the right places [4]. It's like following a recipe - the HTML is the recipe, and the browser is the chef who makes the final dish.