Understanding HTML: The Foundation of Web Development 

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the basis for every web page on top of which links, images, paragraphs blockquotes, etc. are built. HTML is what you will use to structure the appearance of web content, whether that means organizing text into paragraphs, creating bullet/s, and embedding images & also tables.

What is HTML?

At its core, HTML is a markup language used to structure and display content on the web. It consists of components that 'enclose' the material, determining its functions and appearance. For example, HTML elements can make the text italic or hyperlink it.

When you visit a web page, your web browser retrieves an HTML file from the Web server or local storage and converts it into these visual interactive pages. Tags are hidden but the browser uses them to read and display content properly.

Key Functions of HTML

HTML elements are the building blocks of HTML pages. With HTML constructs, images and other objects such as interactive forms may be embedded into the rendered page. HTML provides a means to create structured documents by denoting structural semantics for text such as headings, paragraphs, lists, links, quotes, and other items. HTML elements are delineated by tags, written using angle brackets. some HTML tags include:

<img> for images
<a> for links
<p> for paragraphs
<h1> to <h6> for headings
Tags are enclosed in angle brackets (e.g., <p>) and provide instructions on how browsers should handle content. For example, a paragraph is wrapped in <p>...</p>, while a list can be created with <ul>...</ul> for an unordered list.

Embedding CSS and JavaScript in HTML

HTML can embed programs written in a scripting language such as JavaScript, which affects the behavior and content of web pages. The inclusion of CSS defines the look and layout of content. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), former maintainer of the HTML and current maintainer of the CSS standards, has encouraged the use of CSS over explicit presentational HTML since 1997. 

HTML5: The Modern Standard

Web Development took a new turn with the advent of HTML5. This release introduces native support for embedded video and audio without the need for third-party plugins. For example, the <canva> element allows developers to make interactive graphics and animations and is commonly used in conjunction with JavaScript.