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HTML Cheatsheet

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HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the foundation of the web, providing structure and semantics to web pages. In this technical article, we will explore the essential HTML tags, attributes, and best practices that every experienced programmer should know.

HTML Structure and Basic Tags

HTML documents have a basic structure:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <title>Page Title</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <!-- Content goes here -->
  </body>
</html>
  • <!DOCTYPE html>: Declares the document type as HTML5.
  • <html>: The root element that encompasses the entire HTML document.
  • <head>: Contains meta-information about the document, such as the character encoding and the page title.
  • <body>: The container for the visible content of the web page.

Essential HTML Tags

  • <h1> to <h6>: Headings of decreasing importance.
  • <p>: Paragraphs of text.
  • <a href="url">text</a>: Creates hyperlinks.
  • <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">: Inserts images.
  • <ul> and <ol>: Unordered and ordered lists, respectively.
  • <li>: List items within a list.
  • <table>: Defines a table.
  • <tr>: Table row.
  • <td>: Table cell.

HTML Attributes

HTML tags can have attributes that provide additional information or functionality. Some commonly used attributes include:

  • class="classname": Assigns a class name to an element for styling purposes.
  • id="elementid": Assigns a unique identifier to an element for targeting with CSS or JavaScript.
  • src="url": Specifies the source URL for elements like images and iframes.
  • href="url": Defines the URL destination for hyperlinks.
  • alt="description": Provides alternative text for images.

Best Practices and SEO Considerations

To create well-structured and SEO-friendly web pages, follow these best practices:

  1. Use semantic HTML elements to give meaning to your content.
  2. Properly nest and close your HTML tags.
  3. Optimize images by providing appropriate resolutions and alternative text.
  4. Incorporate relevant keywords in headings, paragraphs, and image descriptions.
  5. Follow accessibility guidelines to make your web pages inclusive.

Conclusion

To further deepen your HTML knowledge, explore these top resources:

  1. MDN Web Docs - HTML: Comprehensive documentation on HTML from the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN).
  2. W3Schools - HTML Tutorial: Beginner-friendly HTML tutorial with examples and interactive exercises from W3Schools.
  3. HTML Dog: Tutorials, guides, and references for HTML and related web technologies from HTML Dog.
  4. HTML5Doctor: Articles, tutorials, and best practices for HTML5 development from HTML5Doctor.
  5. YouTube: HTML Crash Course For Absolute Beginners: Crash course on HTML for beginners by Traversy Media on YouTube.