How the Web Works & What is HTML?

Learn HTML from scratch. Understand how the web works, HTML structure, elements, tags and attributes with live editable examples.

This is the first beginner-level lesson of our Complete HTML Course (Beginner to Advanced). This lesson is designed to build your foundation correctly.

If beginners fail at HTML, it is usually not because HTML is difficult, but because fundamentals are skipped or misunderstood.

After completing this lesson, HTML will stop feeling confusing and start feeling logical and predictable.

In this lesson, you will clearly understand:

How the web actually works behind the scenes
What HTML really does (and what it does not)
The correct HTML document structure
Elements, tags, and attributes with real examples

Lesson 1: How the Web Works & What HTML Really Does

Before writing HTML, you must understand what happens when a website loads. This single concept removes most beginner confusion.

How a Website Loads (Real Step-by-Step)

You type a website address (URL) in the browser
The browser finds the website IP using DNS
The browser sends a request to the web server
The server sends back HTML files
The browser reads HTML from top to bottom
CSS styles the HTML
JavaScript adds behavior and interaction

Important!
The browser cannot style or animate anything until HTML is loaded. HTML is always the foundation.

What HTML Is (And What It Is Not)

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is used to describe content, not to perform logic.

HTML does not calculate
HTML does not make decisions
HTML does not add behavior

Think of HTML as the skeleton of a webpage. CSS is the design. JavaScript is the behavior.

Practice HTML Instantly (No Installation Needed)

To learn HTML properly, practice is essential. If you don’t want to install any software right now, you can practice directly in your browser.

Use the MaxonCodes HTML & CSS Code Compiler to write HTML and see results instantly.

👉 Try it here:
MaxonCodes HTML & CSS Code Compiler

Tip!
Online compilers are perfect for learning and testing. Later, installing a code editor will help with real projects.

Lesson 2: Your First HTML Page (Live Example)

HTML becomes clear only when you write and run it. Edit the code below and observe the result.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First HTML Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello HTML</h1>
    <p>This is my first webpage.</p>
  </body>
</html>

Warning!
Never remove <!DOCTYPE html>. It ensures modern browser behavior.

Lesson 3: HTML Document Structure (Deep Understanding)

Every professional website follows a standard HTML structure. This structure helps browsers, search engines, and accessibility tools.

Why HTML Structure Matters

Search engines understand your page correctly
Screen readers work as expected
Layouts stay predictable

Basic HTML Structure Explained

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Structure Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h2>Main Content</h2>
  <p>This content appears on the page.</p>
</body>
</html>

<html> wraps the entire page
<head> contains metadata and SEO info
<body> contains visible content

Warning!
Never place images, text, or buttons inside the head tag.

Lesson 4: HTML Elements, Tags & Attributes

This concept is the backbone of HTML. Once this clicks, HTML becomes simple forever.

HTML Elements

An HTML element consists of:

Opening tag
Content
Closing tag

<p>This is a paragraph element</p>

Self-Closing Elements

Some elements do not have content. For example, images and inputs.

HTML Attributes

Attributes provide extra information about elements.

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Sample image description">

src defines the file location
alt improves accessibility and SEO

Common Beginner Mistakes (Avoid These)

Memorizing instead of understanding
Skipping practice
Ignoring structure rules
Forgetting accessibility

Final Summary

You learned how websites load
You understood what HTML does
You practiced real HTML structure
You learned elements and attributes

Practice these examples regularly. You are already ahead of most beginners.

🎉 Great job!
You’ve successfully completed Beginner Post #1. Consistency is what turns beginners into pros. Practice daily, then move ahead with confidence.

Next Beginner Post

🚀 Level Up: Next HTML Lesson: Text, Links, Images & Semantic HTML →

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