Why learn HTML? [also see XHTML]

You could make a fair argument that you don't need to know any HTML in order to create web pages or to program web applications. You may use web creating tools to avoid HTML coding and then use PHP or ASP for server-side coding. So although there are many cases against knowing HTML, it is like a languages student learning Latin for which I hope the analogy doesn't put you off. HTML is in everything and at the root of web culture much as Latin underpins many Western languages. You may see a little actual raw HTML now and then but much of whatever else it is you use on the web, will rely and builds upon HTML.

Learning HTML is a great foundation course in understanding how the web works and should be very quick to learn, although it may take a little longer to master. Knowing HTML also gives you a firm knowledge of what a website can do, particularly as some web editing tools end up mystify webpages more than they actually help.

This tutorial will lead you quickly through all the HTML basics and give you a valuable insight into how websites and browsers work together. This tutorial represents HTML v4.01 recommended by the World Wide Web consortium 12/24/99, also see XHTML.