Basic HTML Structure: Understanding the `<!DOCTYPE html>`, `<html>`, `<head>`, and `<body>` Tags
Learn the fundamental structure of an HTML5 document. This tutorial explains the purpose and usage of the `<!DOCTYPE html>`, `<html>`, `<head>`, and `<body>` tags, providing a foundational understanding of how to build well-structured and semantically correct HTML documents.
Basic HTML Structure
The `<!DOCTYPE html>` Declaration
The <!DOCTYPE html> declaration is placed at the very beginning of your HTML document. It tells the web browser that the document is an HTML5 document. While not strictly required in all cases, including it is best practice and helps to ensure that the browser renders the page correctly. It doesn't affect the content directly, but it helps the browser interpret the structure and content appropriately.
The `<html>` Tag
The <html> tag is the root element; it encompasses the entire HTML document. It's a container for the <head> and <body> sections.
The `<head>` Section
The <head> section contains meta-information about the HTML document. This information isn't directly displayed on the page but is crucial for various reasons (such as search engine optimization).
The `<body>` Section
The <body> section contains the visible page content—the text, images, links, and other elements that users see when they view the webpage. This is where you would place your headings, paragraphs, images, and other elements that form the core content of the page.