Web and HTML/CSS Overview

Target Version: HTML5 / CSS3 Official Documentation: MDN Web Docs / W3C

HTML and CSS are the most fundamental building blocks of web development, responsible for a web page's structure and design, respectively. In this guide, we will explore how the web works and the roles that HTML and CSS play.

1. How the Web Works

When a web browser (the Client) sends a Request to a server, the server sends back HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files as a Response. The browser then interprets these files and renders them onto the screen.

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Defines the ** skeleton and structure**of a web page.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): Applies ** styling and layout**to the structured HTML.
• JavaScript: Adds ** dynamic functionality and interactivity**to the web page.

2. Setting Up the Development Environment

While you don't need complex software to start web development, the following tools are highly recommended for efficiency:

1. Browser: Google Chrome (offers robust developer tools).
2. Editor: VS Code (Visual Studio Code).
3. Extension: Live Server (automatically refreshes the browser when you save your files).

3. Web Standards and Accessibility

• Web Standards: A set of guidelines recommended by the W3C to ensure that web pages look and behave consistently across all browsers.
• Web Accessibility: Ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities or the elderly, can easily use a website (e.g., providing alt text for images).

In the next section, we will dive deeper into the structure of HTML.