When a webpage is created, it is formed as an HTML file, which allows it to be recognized and read by the various web browsers on the internet. The problem many web designers face is that this is a plan text version of the website, which is not often very exciting to look at or even easy to read. To fix this problem, HTML tags are hidden within the context of the web page to instruct the browser how to display the content.
The fact is that these tags are crucial and that most browsers will not be able to display any information without at least the basic HTML tags. It is important to understand just what these tags are and how to use them properly if you want to create a dynamic webpage that will catch the online user’s attention. Below is some basic information about HTML tags to help you understand them a little better.
What Is an HTML tag?
An HTML tag stands for HyperText Markup Language and is a type of text-based language that is used to determine how a webpage is formatted. It works like a series of instructions that are written in a language that internet web browsers can read. It uses these instructions to determine the exact layout of the webpage.
Most HTML tags have a start tag and an end tag that tell the browser exactly where to start a specific formatting feature and where to end it. Occasionally, you will see a single HTML tag that does not have a pair. Typically, these are used to show where to insert something into the page, such as an image. The tag uses a pair of angle brackets with special wording or characters used inside the brackets. A single forward slash is also used when creating an end tag.
How Are HTML Tags Used?
These HTML tags are used to help create the visual display of your website. Everything from paragraph placement to font type and size to included images must have a HTML tag attached to it, or it will not be displayed correctly. These tags help space your website content out and place bold print where it needs to be and pictures or logos where they need to be on the page.
In addition, hyperlinks also require an attached HTML tag to work properly. A hyperlink is a link embedded in a keyword in your context that will take the online user either to another section of your website or to a totally different website. These links are crucial for online marketing purposes and proper placement of these links can help a website boost its search engine ranking. These tags can also be used to help steer a person to the right section of the page. This is often used in the questions and answers section of a website, so the user does not have to scroll the entire way down the page.
Commonly Used Tags
There are numerous HTML tags that are used in almost all website pages. Below is a look at some of the most basic type of tags.
- Bold Print <B>text</B>
- Underline <U>text</U>
- Header <H1>heading 1</H1>
- Center Wording <ALIGN=Center>
- Bullet Points <UL>
<L1>
<L2>
</UL>
- Paragraph Break <P>at beginning of paragraph and </P> at end of paragraph
- Insert an Image <Img>
- Internal Link <A HREF=”anchor name”>Destination</A>
How to Embed These Tags in Your Text
Years ago, anyone who wanted to create a webpage would have to understand all the necessary HTML tags and know how to insert them correctly into the web page. Today, however, many programs and even website development services, automatically add these necessary tags for you eliminating the need to learn all the extra codes. However, sometimes these codes do not work right and things do not appear as you want them to, when you post the content online.
This will require you to look through your web page and look at the coding that was displayed incorrectly. This is where understanding these tags will come in handy. You can research the codes you need to find out where your mistake is at and then make the necessary changes. It may take some trial and error, but you should be able to fix the tag and ensure it displays properly on your page.
Understanding these HTML tags will help you create the dynamic webpages you need to grab the online user’s attention towards your site. Most website users only need to understand the basic HTML tags, but if you want to develop you website without any professional services, you will need to have a full understanding of these tags. To eliminate the need to know more about the tags to develop your website, you can work with a professional website design team, who will insert the necessary tags for you.
