In the early years of the internet, you needed to code from scratch to build a website. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) quickly became the dominant programming language used for making websites, and it continues to be an essential option, though it has changed much over the years.
But the average person does not do direct coding. Instead, they use WordPress or some other system to make a website without having to do any coding. But there are some situations when building a website from scratch using HTML is still the preferred option. If you want to do that for yourself or your company, read on to get started.
Key takeaways:
- The requirements for building a website with HTML include a notepad for programmers, web hosting, and a domain name.
- To build a website, you must learn HTML and other languages. You can also use a content management system (CMS) or web builder.
- Coding your website in HTML entails various steps, and you must learn to use tags.
What Do You Need Before You Start Making Your Website?
A website can be made with nothing more than a notepad program and an understanding of HTML. If you code a basic website on the notepad and save it with .html, you can open it in a web browser, and it will display as required.
This website is only available to people on your computer where it is saved. To make a public website, ensure you have several other things, including:
- Programmers’ notepad: While you can use just the standard notepad program on all Windows computers, most people prefer a program designed for developers. There are many options to choose from.
- Domain registration: You must register your desired domain name through a domain name registrar. The domain name is what is typed into the address bar to get to a site. For example, the domain name for this site is Digital.com.
- Web hosting: You need a web hosting service for your website so people can access it. Choosing the best service based on your needs is important.
What Exactly Is HTML?
HTML is a programming language used to identify the various structures and components of web pages. All browsers know how to interpret HTML from the text commands into the various websites used.
HTML has been around for a long time and quickly became the standard language of websites. It has evolved over the years. HTML5 is the standard, allowing developers to create more advanced websites than older versions.
Other languages
While HTML continues to be an essential tool in website creation, it is not the only one. Most websites will also use other languages, including Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JavaScript, and Personal Home Page (PHP, though that name no longer technically applies).
To build a website from scratch, you will likely need to know HTML and several other languages such as these to get the desired results.
What Are the Steps Involved in Coding Your Site in HTML?
Coding a site in HTML (or HTML combined with other languages) will take multiple steps. The bulk of your time will be spent creating your initial site, made of different parts based on the various HTML tags used.
You also need to continue expanding and adding to your site over time. Many steps are involved; this is not meant to teach a full HTML course. Instead, the following are just the high-level things you must complete to build and run a site from scratch using HTML.
Coding the parts of a website
When creating a website using HTML, make sure everything is structured correctly. This is all done through HTML code. If the different parts of a website are not added in, the page will not look how you want it, or worse, it will generate error messages.
Tags needed
For example, a website that uses only HTML should always start with the first line of code being <html> and the last line being </html>. You can have as many different HTML tags and commands as needed between those two tags.
Almost all websites will have a:
- <head> tag for the heading
- <body> tags for the body
- <h1> tags for the top heading title
- <H2> for sub-headings
- <p> for paragraphs
There are many more tags. You must also have a closing tag for every tag you have, which is simply the same tag, only with a / in front of it. Once you have finished creating your website, the HTML document will (to the average person) look like a confusing bunch of text. However, once that file is loaded onto a web server and accessed by a browser, your website will be displayed.
Expanding your site
Most people do not want to build a website and leave it unchanged for years. Instead, you will likely add new pages, expand content, and more. When using HTML, each new page generally consists of a new file. However, you cannot just create an HTML file and upload it to your web server. Instead, you must create the file and then edit your other files to link to it or otherwise add it to the overall structure of your page.
FAQs About Building a Website With HTML
Where can I learn to code in HTML?
How much does it cost to have a site made in HTML?
How long does it take to code a site in HTML?
Is making a site in HTML right for you?
For most situations, individuals and small businesses are better off using a great CMS like WordPress or a website builder. This will offer better results much faster upfront and make it easier to manage your site long into the future.
