The Purpose of HTML Tags
HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard markup language used to create and structure web pages. The primary purpose of HTML tags is to provide a way to define the structure and semantics of a web page's content. These tags act as instructions for web browsers, telling them how to display and interpret the different elements on a web page.
Structural Tags
HTML tags are used to define the various sections and elements of a web page, such as headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, and more. These structural tags help to organize the content and make it easier for both humans and machines to understand the page's structure. For example, the <h1>
, <h2>
, and <h3>
tags are used to define the main heading, subheadings, and sub-subheadings of a web page, respectively.
] B --> B2[
] B --> B3[
]
Semantic Tags
In addition to structural tags, HTML also provides semantic tags that convey the meaning or purpose of the content they enclose. These tags help search engines and other applications better understand the content of a web page. For example, the <article>
, <section>
, <nav>
, and <footer>
tags indicate the different sections of a web page and their respective purposes.
Presentation Tags
While HTML is primarily focused on the structure and semantics of web content, it also provides some tags that are used for presentation and styling purposes. These tags, such as <b>
for bold text and <i>
for italic text, are used to apply basic visual formatting to the content. However, it's generally recommended to use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for more advanced styling and presentation, as it separates the content from the presentation.
In summary, HTML tags serve three main purposes: structuring the content, conveying the semantic meaning of the content, and applying basic visual formatting. By using these tags effectively, web developers can create well-organized, meaningful, and visually appealing web pages that can be easily understood and navigated by both humans and machines.