HyperText Markup Language:
HyperText Markup Language, known as HTML, is the fundamental technology behind web development. It acts as the universal markup language for organizing content online. HTML consists of a collection of elements and tags that establish the layout of a webpage, specifying the functions of various content sections and their connections.
At the core of an HTML document lies the HTML tag, which envelops all content. This tag splits the document into two crucial parts: the head and the body. The head section holds metadata such as the page title, character encoding, and references to external stylesheets or scripts. Meanwhile, the body section contains the visible content, including text, images, links, and various multimedia elements.
HTML uses tags to outline numerous factors and their attributes. For example, the <p> tag indicates a paragraph, the <h1> to <h6> tags constitute headings of various ranges, and the <a> tag creates links. Additionally, HTML supports the inclusion of photographs the usage of the <img> tag, and the use of the <table> tag, helping inside the enterprise and presentation of facts.
Attributes play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of HTML elements. For example, the src attribute within the <img> tag specifies the image source, while the href attribute within the <a> tag determines the destination of a link.
With the advent of HTML5, new semantic elements like <article>, <section>, and <nav> offer higher structure which means to content material. HTML5 additionally introduces local help for audio and video playback through the <audio> and <video> tags.
HTML serves as a versatile tool for organizing content on the web, enabling browsers to display information effectively. Due to its simplicity and widespread use, mastering HTML is crucial for individuals entering the field of web development. As the cornerstone of the Internet, HTML evolves continuously, providing developers with the ability to craft more elaborate and engaging online experiences.
Semantic HTML:
Semantic markup, also known as semantic HTML, refers to the practice of utilizing HTML elements to convey the meaning of the information they enclose.
Enhance the clarity of your website's components and their significance by incorporating semantic HTML elements to provide additional details.
Unlike non-semantic HTML that utilizes tags with indirect meanings.
How Do Semantic HTML Tags Work?
Semantic properties in HTML tags enable the definition of content within them.
Semantic HTML tags are those such as <header>, <article>, and <footer>. They make the purpose of the stuff they convey very evident.
On the other hand, HTML elements that lack semantic meaning are commonly denoted by tags such as <div> and <span>. These elements primarily serve as containers for content without indicating the type of content they contain or its intended placement on the webpage.
Why Are Semantic HTML Tags Required?
There are two additional specific rationales for consistently using semantic HTML elements, apart from the clear benefit of improving code readability and comprehension for web developers.
Availability:
For individuals with visual impairments, browsing a website can be straightforward. The main content, headings, and footers are easily discernible.
For individuals dependent on screen readers and experiencing blindness or visual impairments, the situation is not straightforward.
Utilizing HTML semantic elements effectively enhances the accessibility of content for users who rely on screen readers, facilitating better understanding of the information being presented.
Search engine optimization (SEO):
Semantic HTML tags play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of search engine optimization (SEO) by emphasizing the importance of the content they enclose.
The presence of this data helps search engine crawlers like Googlebot to understand your content more effectively. Consequently, it increases the chances of your content being selected by the search engine to appear as a Search Engine Results Page (SERP) candidate for relevant keywords.
Simply put, webpages that implement semantic HTML appropriately will achieve better rankings in search engine results compared to those that do not. Identifying HTML tag issues that could be impacting your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts can be facilitated by using a tool like Site Audit.
HTML Semantic Tag Types:
Semantic tags can be utilized to define various sections of a webpage.
Let's explore the most commonly used semantic HTML elements, categorized based on their usage into two groups:
- Semantic HTML elements for structuring content
- Semantic tags for text in HTML
Structure semantic tags in HTML
Several semantic HTML elements are responsible for structuring the layout of a webpage.
Following the update from HTML4 to HTML5, a set of new "structural" tags were introduced, commonly known as semantic HTML5 elements or tags.