HyperText Markup Language, which is the core markup language of the web enabling you to format text, create links, add graphics, frames and tables. It is then read by a browser and displayed on the web.

What is HTML?

The main feature, is its tag system. Each element has a start tag (<b>) and an end tag (</b>). The HTML element is all content contained within those angled brackets – so, in this example all content would be bold.

Typically, HTML identifies headings, italics, bold elements, sections, headers and footers, articles and navigation around a web page. It is a standardised language ensuring consistency of web content when designers are creating sites and applications.

The first description was in 1991 but actual versions of the language were launched as follows:

HTML5 is the latest version of this language, and adds consistency to embedding audio, video and image files to assist developers with the increasing reliance on multimedia files in the creation of dynamic sites and apps. Also, the data is only passed when it is asked for – not every time - so the website’s performance is not adversely affected. It is still being developed and is not yet supported by all browsers. It is backwards compatible with older versions which assists developers revising sites and apps.

Using HTML5, our developers are also able to build systems incorporating databases from other sources and adding more dynamic content. It reduces the need for additional plug-ins such as Flash for multimedia experiences and improves features such as calendars and form handling. The canvas feature means programming can now include more graphic elements such as drawing circles, boxes and characters.

In HTML, there are two new objects for storing data – localStorage with no time limit and sessionStorage which stores data for one session. Previously, cookies were needed for this but as they are passed on by every request to the server, they can slow down a system making it ineffective.

While HTML is commonly associated with developing the structure of web pages, developers use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to change the look and feel of a site or app.

CSS is an international standard to ensure consistency and compatibility across all browsers. It was first launched in 1996 when margins and positioning on pages were powered by style sheets, along with the design of spaces between lines and rows in tables.

In 1998, CSS2 was published and the latest version, CSS3, launched last year with new features such as text overflow, box shadows, rounded corners and a huge variety of new colours and fonts.

Although CSS is a universal standard, some browsers offer a slightly different interpretation of the language which is a potential drawback in its use.

The new features mean it will provide much of the functionality that Flash has provided up to now but embedded rather than as a plug-in. It is anticipated that for gaming, for example, Flash will continue to develop and be used. HTML5 will, however, mean more new systems and apps can be built without the need for extra programming. This isn't supported fully by all browsers yet but given that it is backward compatible, this should not prove problematic for developers.

Please get in contact with us to discuss your project requirements, our team who are always happy to talk without obligation and offer a free initial consultation.

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