- Hyper Text Language(HTML)
At the heart of the web is a simple page description language called Hyper Text markup language (HTML). HTML is common languages of inter change for hypertext that forms the fabric of the web. HTML is based on an international electronic document standard called standard Generalized Markup language(SGML). HTML enables document creation for the web by embedding control codes in ASCII text to designate titles, headings, graphics and hypertext links, making use of SGML powerful linking capabilities. HTML was designed to be sufficiently simple so as to be produced easily by people and automatically generated by people and automatically generated by the programmers.
Familiarity with unix text formatting languages such as troff, text, or La tex simplifies HTML coding pickup. Even otherwise, HTML coding is very easy and can be mastered in a few hours. HTML tags embedded within the body of the text, are used to define a document and guide its display.
There are three ways to produce HTML document, writing them yourself, which is not a very difficult skill to acquire using an HTML editor which assists in doing the above and converting documents in other formats to HTML. Another way to produce HTML files is to choose a template and modify it.The fastest way to produce HTML is to learn by example. That is you can use the built-in “view source” option to view the HTML commands that make up some of your favorite pages on the web. HTMLis evolving rapidly in various directions. The specification is currently at document type
definition (DTD) level 2 which includes support for forms within standard hypertext documents (the DTD describes the logical structure of possible document instances.
This includes features for more sophisticated on-line documentation form templates for the entry of data by users, tables, and mathematical formula e. Work is also underway for DTD level 3, which is focusing on a “scalable HTML”. IN short, HTML was meant to be a language of communication which actually flows over the network. HTML use is not restricted to HTTP, but can be used in email, news and any where hypertext is needed. It includes simple structure elements such as several levels of headings, lists, menus and compact lists, all of which are useful when presenting choices and in on-line documents. Also there is no rule that all HTTPD files are stored in HYML.
Severs may store files in other formats or in variations on HTML that include extra information of local interest only, and then generate HTML on the fly with each request. To generate HTML on the fly, servers make use of an essential service for dealing with HTML forms known as CGI.