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Chapter 2: Tags versus Content
Any HTML document is made up of two things--tags and content. This is
central to the way HTML works.
Tags are the HTML itself--in other words, the markup (remember
HyperText Markup Language). All HTML tags are enclosed in angle
brackets < and >. Here are some actual HTML tags:
<title>
<p>
<img>
<table>
Most but not all HTML tags are used in pairs--there is a starting tag and
an ending tag. These tags are called container tags because they can
'contain' or wrap around other tags and content. The ending tag is the
same as the starting tag with the addition of a leading slash (/). So, </title>
is the ending tag for <title>. The tags that do not have a separate closing
tag are known as 'self-closing'. All you do is add a space and the slash
just before the > to close the tag.
The <img> tag is a good example of this. Since it doesn't have a closing
tag, we close it as follows:
Wrong: >img src="logo.gif">
Correct: <img src="logo.gif" />
Content in an HTML document is anything that is not an HTML tag. Another way of looking at it would be that content is the information you want to show the user. Content can be included in an HTML document in two ways:
- Included as part of the document. This is the way text content is handled.
- In a separate file and referenced from the document. This is the way images are handled.
<p>HTML is <b>easy to learn!</b></p>
Let's dissect and analyze this short piece of HTML:
- <p> is the paragraph tag. It marks the start of a paragraph.
- 'HTML is' is content. It will be displayed to the user.
- <b> is the boldface tag. It marks the start of boldfaced text.
- 'easy to learn!' is more content. It will be displayed to the user in boldface text.
- </b> is the boldface ending tag. It turns boldface off.
- </p> is the paragraph ending tag. It marks the end of the paragraph.
CoffeeCup Software started in a real Coffee House 1996. Our first program was the HTML Editor. Over the last 10 years we have created a lot more Web Design & Flash Software. Our philosophy has always been to create software and services so you can make better Websites. We are dedicated to helping you by offering extraordinary support so we can succeed together. Consider us a partner and a friend, because we really are about Fresh Software and Warm People.
