DEV Community

Cover image for Start Coding Today: Easy HTML Tutorial for Absolute Beginners
Rishabh parmar
Rishabh parmar

Posted on

Start Coding Today: Easy HTML Tutorial for Absolute Beginners

#html #tutorial

Are you curious about how websites are built? Ever wondered what powers the design behind your favorite blog or online store? The answer is simple: HTML—the foundation of every website on the internet. If you're an absolute beginner, you're in the right place. This HTML tutorial will walk you through the basics in a friendly, easy-to-understand way—no tech background required!

What Is HTML?

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It’s not a programming language, but a markup language used to structure content on the web. Think of HTML as the skeleton of a webpage. It tells your browser what text is a heading, which images to show, where the links go, and more.

Here’s a simple example of an HTML snippet:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First Web Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
    <p>This is my very first HTML page.</p>
  </body>
</html>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Looks intimidating? Don’t worry! We’ll break it down and make it fun.

Why Learn HTML?

HTML is the first step into web development. Whether you want to build websites, dive into UI/UX design, or just understand how the internet works—HTML is essential.

Here’s why learning HTML is a great idea:

  • Build Your Own Website – No need to hire a developer.
  • Enhance Your Resume – Even basic HTML skills can boost your job prospects.
  • Creative Freedom – Customize your blogs, emails, and online profiles.
  • Understand the Web – Know what’s going on behind the scenes of every webpage.

Getting Started: Tools You Need

The beauty of learning HTML is that you don’t need expensive tools or complex setups. All you need is:

  1. A text editor – Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (Mac), or more advanced ones like Visual Studio Code.
  2. A web browser – Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

That’s it! You can literally start coding today without installing any special software.

Key HTML Concepts for Beginners

1. Tags and Elements

HTML works using tags like <h1>, <p>, <img>, etc. These tags tell the browser what each part of the page does.

  • <h1> to <h6> – Headings
  • <p> – Paragraph
  • <a href="URL"> – Link
  • <img src="image.jpg"> – Image

2. HTML Page Structure

Every HTML document follows a basic structure:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <!-- Info like title, styles -->
  </head>
  <body>
    <!-- Actual content here -->
  </body>
</html>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The <head> is where metadata goes, and the <body> is where you put the content you want people to see.

3. Adding Links and Images

Want to add a link? Use this:

<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

To add an image:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of image">
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

4. Lists and Formatting

Create a bullet list using:

<ul>
  <li>Item One</li>
  <li>Item Two</li>
</ul>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Want to make text bold or italic?

<strong>Bold Text</strong> and <em>Italic Text</em>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Hands-On Practice: Build a Mini Web Page

Let’s put your new skills into action with a tiny project.

Paste this code into your text editor, save it as index.html, and open it in your browser:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First Site</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Welcome to My Page</h1>
    <p>Hello! I’m learning HTML and this is my first website.</p>
    <a href="https://google.com">Visit Google</a>
    <img src="https://via.placeholder.com/150" alt="Sample Image">
  </body>
</html>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Congratulations—you’ve just created your very first web page!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When starting out, beginners often make some small errors. Here are a few things to watch for:

  • Don’t forget the closing tags (</p>, </h1>, etc.)
  • Use proper nesting (don't put a <p> inside an <h1>)
  • Always check for typos in tag names

The good news is that browsers are forgiving and will still try to render your page even with small mistakes.

What’s Next After HTML?

Once you're comfortable with HTML, the next step is CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to style your pages. After that, you can explore JavaScript to make your site interactive.

But take it one step at a time. This HTML tutorial is your foundation—and every web developer starts here.

Final Thoughts

Learning HTML doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. With just a little time and practice, you can start creating your own websites from scratch. This easy HTML tutorial has given you the tools to take that first exciting step into web development.

So what are you waiting for? Open up your text editor, type your first lines of code, and start building something awesome. The web is waiting for your ideas!

Top comments (0)