Hypertext markup language (HTML) is a markup language, initially designed to be used on web pages.
This post is an introduction to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
It is an extension of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).
HTML Versions
HTML 5 is the latest version, as of 2025.
HTML Element
HTML elements can be found on the Mozilla reference on this external link.
HTML tags:
- article
- aside
- blockquote
- canvas
- div
- hx
- header
- footer
- main
- nav
- object
- section
- span
- p
- section
- span
article defines an independent content within a page, like a blog post or a news article. It was introduced in HTML 5.
aside are indirectly related to the side.
blockquote is used to refer to a quote.
canvas is used to draw graphics using JavaScript. It was introduced in HTML 5.
div is used to define a section and apply a certain CSS style. It was introduced before HTML 5.
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 and h6 refer to headers.
header is an element represents a container for introductory content or a set of navigational links. It was introduced in HTML 5.
main informs about the main part within the body. There should be no more than a visible main at a time.
footer is a footer.
nav defines a set of navigation links. It was introduced in HTML 5.
object is used to embed external objects, like applets or interactive content.
p represents a paragraph.
section defines a section within a document. It was introduced in HTML 5.
span is a generic inline container.
Mathematical expressions can be added through MathML (Mathematical Markup Language), that is included in HTML5. Before that, it needed the help of some libraries such as MathJax for JavaScript, that was based on markup languages like MathML.
Self-contained HTML packages
Groups working on self-contained HTML packages:
- wpack
- WICG
Web Packaging (wpack) was a IETF working group that worked on a specification for a web packaging format that efficiently bundles multiple HTTP representations. It was concluded in 2022 after not arriving to any consensus.
The Web Incubator Community Group (WICG) is part of the Web Platform group.
Self-contained HTML packages:
- SXG
- Web bundle
Signed Exchange (SXG) is a technology that has a formal RFC and in used.
It was developed the WICG.
Web bundle is a proposed specification to define the format for bundling multiple resources. It would use the .wbn format.
It was developed in WICG. It is still being tested.