HTML Overview for Bloggers

What Is HTML?:

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. HTML is the basic programming language used to write pages on the World Wide Web. Basically, HTML tells your web browser how to display text, images, links, sounds and more on your screen.

What Are HTML Tags?:

HTML relies on tags to produce commands and customize elements on a web page. Tags are basically instructions telling the browser when to start displaying a specific item or enhancement (such as bold or italics) and when to stop that enhancement. For example, to display a word in bold, the HTML code with the appropriate tags would look like this:

I <b>love</b> blogs.

That sentence would display on your browser as follows:

I love blogs.

What Are Some Basic HTML Tags Used in Blogs?:

The most basic HTML tags used in blogs include:

• Bold: <b>and</b>
• Italics: <i>and</i>
• Underline: <u>and</u>
• Text size: <font size=2>and</font>
• Text color: <font color=blue>and</font>
• Paragraph: <p>and</p>
• Line Break: <br>

Do I Need to Learn HTML to Start a Blog?:

The short answer is no. Luckily, there are a variety of blogging software options available online (many are free) where people with no HTML knowledge can easily start a blog. Those blogging platforms include Wordpress, Blogger, TypePad, Moveable Type, MySpace and more. Each provides a WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, so you can modify and customize your blog without the use of HTML. Of course, vast customization will require the use of HTML and other web design tools. However, learning HTML can help you save time, money and more. Follow the link to learn why bloggers should learn HTML.

Where Can I Learn HTML?:

You can learn HTML through online tutorials and books. You can follow the link to find 10 popular resources to learn HTML.