What is HTML and why should you learn it?
HTML is an acronym for HyperText Markup Language and it refers to the code in which WWW files are written
and saved. A file for the web ends in .htm or .html for this reason. It is a very easy code to learn
because it is mostly english based. This is because HTML can be understood on many platforms (both on PC
and Mac) and by all web browsers (Netscape and MSIE, for example). Is knowing HTML an absolute requirement
for creating your website? The short answer is "no". However, it will ultimately be beneficial if you do
learn it because you will be able to manipulate advanced features more easily.
Using a WYSIWYG application
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. This refers to any application which does not require
knowledge of HTML to create a website. Examples of these types of applications are Netscape Communicator's
Composer, Microsoft's Front Page or the GeoCities feature called Advanced Builder. These are free in some
cases (the GeoCities application is free with your free membership, and Composer can be downloaded for free from
Netscape's website).
Learning HTML
Great! You want to learn HTML! You will find that this will be an invaluable tool. More and more companies
and schools are requiring that employees and students have the ability to put their work on the WWW. Learning
HTML will help you with your Alpha Gamma Delta website but also in numerous other aspects of your education and
career. For example, some universities are now requiring that graduate student theses and dissertations be
formatted for publication on the Internet.
Sites of Interest
HTML: An Interactive Tutorial for Beginners
Create It~101
Web Diner
So, you want to make a Webpage!