The starting code for an HTML document is called the doctype declaration and the opening HTML tag. Here is an example of the basic starting code for an HTML document:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Content goes here -->
</body>
</html>
Let’s break down the different parts of this starting code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
: This declaration informs the browser that you are using HTML5, the latest version of HTML. It ensures that the browser renders the page correctly.<html>
: The opening<html>
tag denotes the beginning of the HTML document. It encompasses the entire content of the web page.<head>
: The<head>
section contains meta-information about the web page, such as the title, character encoding, stylesheets, scripts, and more. It is not visible to the user but provides essential instructions for the browser and search engines.<title>
: The<title>
element sets the title of the web page, which is displayed in the browser’s title bar or tab. It should be a concise and descriptive title that represents the content of the page.<body>
: The<body>
tag encloses the visible content of the web page. This is where you place elements like headings, paragraphs, images, links, lists, forms, and other HTML elements that users can see and interact with.<!-- Content goes here -->
: This is a comment within the HTML code. You can remove or replace it with your actual content, such as text, images, or other HTML elements.
By starting with this basic HTML structure, you establish the foundation for building your web page. You can add additional HTML elements and content within the <body>
tag to create a complete and functional web page.
If you learned something from this post, be sure to check out my complete HTML tutorial for beginners.