My first HTML program!

'Hello World!' © 2001 by Michelle Lee, http://www.UltimateResourceBarn.com ----------------------------------------------------------- In order for you to truely control your website, you need to know HTML. Yes, there are many web site wizards or builders out there that can help you built your web site without you knowing a single line of HTML code. However, many of such wizard or builder does not generate optimal codes. This means that for a simple web site layout, it may take a long time to load, simply because there are a lot of redundant codes in it. Wizards are wizards and will never be as smart as a human being. If the thought of learning HTML is daunting to you, fear not. Learning HTML is not as difficult as you think it is. Sure, you did not graduate with a degree in Computer Science. But that doesn't mean you cannot learn a new programming language such as HTML, or even Javascript. The trick to learning anything is to take small steps at a time. Often people give up before even embarking on a new learning experience because they are overwhelmed by how much they have to learn. As the saying goes, Rome is not built in a day. Just like 'How do you eat an elephant?', you take 'one bite at a time'. To be an expert in HTML takes time. You cannot hope to go through a crash course and know all the HTML tags at the back of your hands after a few days of learning. The best way to learn HTML is by doing it yourself. There are many HTML tutorials on the Internet. Some of the HTML tutorials are newbie-friendly. Lessons are explained in plain english so that even those without any prior experience in programming can understand easily. Let me kick start you with your first ever HTML program. To start to write your first program, you do not need any special software. All you need is the NotePad that is available under Windows 95/98/ME. Let's look at the programming codes. --- Start of programming codes --- My first HTML program! Hello World! --- End of programming codes --- Cut and paste the above codes (start from the word to the word ) into your NotePad. Save the text file using the filename HelloWorld.html (the file extension should be html and NOT txt). Now, open your browser and under the File menu, choose Open. Use the Browse button and look for HelloWorld.html that you have just saved. Simply open the html file and voila! you will see the result in your browser! Here's the explanation on the programming codes. Web pages are plain text surrounded by commands of a simple special language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). Every HTML-command is between 'tags', that is between < and >. Therefore we have command tags like , etc. Each type of command tag always appear in pairs (just like shoes that comes in a pair) Most command begin with their name between tags and end with the same name preceded by a / (also between tags). In between is text. Looking at the first command , which indicates the start of the HTML program, you will notice that there's a at the end of the entire codes. Yes, you might have already guessed correctly, the indicate the end of the HTML program. In between the and , you have the and , the and , and the and pair of tags. Simply put, anything that is in between the and command tag are header information of the HTML program. In our example, we have the and pair of command tags in between the and tags. The tag let you specify the title that appear on the browser's title bar. Examine closely your browser window where you have just opened the HTML program. Look a the top of the screen, did you see the words 'My first HTML program!'? Now, do you understand how the <title> tag works? Next, let's take a look at what's in between the <body> and </body> tags. Whatever that appear between the <body> and </body> tags are the content of the web page. In our example, we only have one line 'Hello World!' as the content in our web page. That's exactly what your browser window is showing! Say 'Hello World!' out loud NOW! YES, you have already embarked on your journey! YES, you have just completed your first ever HTML program! It isn't too difficult, is it? Now that you have gain a little confident, go on to the HTML tutorials. I have compiled a list of HTML tutorials available at our website http://www.UltimateResourceBarn.com/htmltutorial.html Do take some time to briefly go through them. Look at each one and see which is the one you are most comfortable with. Read at least the first chapter/lesson. Can you following the explanation? If you are, stick to that tutorial. Make sure you finish the tutorial from start to end. DO NOT rush through them. If there are exercises in the tutorial, make sure you do them. Remember, the best way to learn HTML is to do it yourself. Once you are comfortable with HTML, you will never go back to the web site wizards or builders ever again. Just remember, be kind to yourself. Give yourself time to learn. One of the most painful aspects about making a mistake and being disappointed or failing at something is not what others people say about us. It is how hard we are on ourselves. Be consistant, set up a realistic learning schedule and you will graduate from HTML programming! © 2001 by Michelle Lee ----------------------------------------------------------- Michelle Lee is the owner of the website http://www.UltimateResourceBarn.com and publisher of the @UltimateResourceBarn Newsletter, a FREE weekly publication. Both the website and newsletter are jam packed with Articles, Tips, Tricks on Internet Marketing, affiliate programs, mlm, work at home opportunities & more. Get all these, plus FREE eBooks and 1 FREE ad space! To subscribe, mailto:subscribe@UltimateResourceBarn.com