edf40wrjww2CF_PaperMaster:Desc
Getting Started
Terms to Know
WWW World Wide Web
Web World Wide Web
SGML Standard Generalized Markup Language--a standard for describing markup languages
DTD Document Type Definition--this is the formal specification of a markup language, written using SGML
HTML HyperText Markup Language--HTML is an SGML DTD
In practical terms, HTML is a collection of platform-independent styles (indicated by markup tags) that
define the various components of a World Wide Web document. HTML was invented by Tim
Berners-Lee while at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva.
What Isn't Covered
This primer assumes that you:
know how to use NCSA Mosaic or some other Web browser
have a general understanding of how Web servers and client browsers work
have access to a Web server (or that you want to produce HTML documents for personal use in
local-viewing mode)
HTML Version
This guide reflects the most current specification--HTML Version 2.0-- plus some additional features that have
been widely and consistently implemented in browsers. Future versions and new features for HTML are under
development.
HTML Documents
What an HTML Document Is
HTML documents are plain-text (also known as ASCII) files that can be created using any text editor (e.g.,
Emacs or vi on UNIX machines; BBEdit on a Macintosh; Notepad on a Windows machine). You can also useword-processing software if you remember to save your document as "text only with line breaks."
HTML Editors
Some WYSIWYG editors are available (e.g., HotMetal, which is available for several platforms or Adobe
PageMill for Macintoshes). You may wish to try one of them after you learn some of the ba ...