Understanding HTML: Your Guide to Hypertext Markup Language and Web Development Basics
Dive into the fundamentals of HTML, the backbone of web content, and learn how it utilizes tags to structure text and elements on websites. This guide covers important HTML concepts, including DTD, different HTML versions (like XHTML), and the W3C standards, while exploring practical HTML writing techniques. Understand the nuances between tags, the creation of lists, inserting images, and the importance of cross-browser compatibility. Perfect for beginners and seasoned developers alike, this resource will enhance your web design skills and knowledge.
Understanding HTML: Your Guide to Hypertext Markup Language and Web Development Basics
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Presentation Transcript
HTML Your Friend or Foe? and a little bit from Lazar
Some Terms. . . • HTML: Hypertext Markup Language • SGML: Standard Generalized Markup Language • DTD: Document Type Definitions • HTML is a SGML DTD used on the WWW
What does HTML Do? • HTML script uses a code called a tag to describe how items should look • HTML uses a syntax that is supposedly generally agreed upon to make it portable
Specifications or Standards • The World Wide Web Consortium (W3) • 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.2, 4.0, 4.01 (recent) • xhtml 1.1 • http://www.w3.org • Proprietary code problems
Ways to Write HTML • HTML Converters (Word, StarOffice) • HTML Editors • WYSIWYG • WYSIWAG • UNIX Editors (pico, jpico, vi, emacs) • Notepad ;} • EditPlus
Creating an HTML Document (AKA Web page) • Let’s look at Mary’s Resume. . .
Creating an HTML Document (AKA Web page) - cont. • Document Content -- controlled by HTML Tags <tag name Properties> Document Content </tag name>
HTML Tags • <h1 align=center> Mary Taylor </h1> • Different Browsers interpret tags . . . differently. • <font size = "4"> Mary Taylor </font> • A different approach
More HTML Tags <html> <head> <title> </title> </head> <body> </body> </html>
Subtle Differences. . . • h tags versus font tags • <h1> versus <font size=1> • spacing • bold • the align property (3.2 and higher) • the <p> tag -- to </p> or not to </p>? • your friend the <br>
Lists • Unordered • Ordered • Definition
Unordered Lists <ul> <li>Item</li> <li>Item</li> <li>Item</li> </ul> </li> and a </p> are optional right now, but this is changing
Ordered Lists <ol> <li>Item #1</li> <li>Item #2</li> <li>Item #3</li> </ol>
Definition List <dl>definition list <dt>definition term <dd>definition <dt> <dt> <dd> </dl>
Options on Lists • Unordered List • <ul type=disk> • <ul type=circle> • <ul type=square> • Ordered List • <ol type=[1,i,A,a] start=[1,i,A,a]> • Let's Look
Using Notepad and Browser • Saving the file as “foo.htm” (or foo.html) • Making sure to save it as "All Files (*.*)" • Looking at file in browser • Saving before looking
Character Tags • physical versus logical • physical: exactly how you want the text to appear -- <b>, <i>, <big>, <small> (big and small are html 3.0 and above) • logical: how you want to use the text -- <em>, <strong>, <var>, <cite>, <code>, <kbd> • when to use one over another?
Example <em><strong> satellite technician </strong></em> <i><b> satellite technician </b></i>
Horizontal Lines <hr> <hr align=center> <hr size="12"> <hr width="30%"> <hr width="15"> <hr align=center size="12" width="30%">
More Line Options • More Options • <hr noshade><p> • <hr noshade size="8"><p> • With Explorer • <hr color="#ff0000"><p> • <hr size="10" width=30% color="green"> • Let’s Look
Inserting Images • Inline Image • Appears directly on the Web page • External Image • Browser needs a file viewer
Image Tag <img src = “filename”> GIF versus JPEG Needs to be one of them
Two Ways to Center <p align=center><img src=“taylor.gif”></p> (3.x and above) <center><img src=“taylor.gif”></center> Filenames are case sensitive!
Lifecycle and Evolutionary • SDLC • Hoffer, George, and Valacich • Whitten and Bentley • Evolutionary • Spiral model • Risk factors • End user plays somewhat of a role
Lazar User-Centered Web Development Lifecycle • Define the mission of the Website and the user population • Collect the user requirements for the Website • Create the conceptual design of the Website
Lazar User-Centered Web Development Lifecycle (cont.) • Create the physical design of the Website • Perform usability testing on the Website • Implement and market the Website • Evaluate and improve the Website
Challenges to Web Development • Browser Type • Browser Version • Screen Size • Operating System • Download Time • Infrequency of use • Users don’t use your site all the time • Some exceptions, of course
Clients versus Users • Melding Mission with Need • Determining User base • Negotiating soltions
Clients • Client versus User • Not the same people • Make sure the client has a clear purpose • Make sure the client is committed • Keep client frequently updated • Learn the client's interaction style and use it to your advantage • Meld client mission with user needs
Mission of the Website • Type of Website • Informational • E-Commerce • Entertainment • Target Population • local, international • audience-split? • WMU site