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Introduction to HTML and CSS Basics

Dec 4, 2024

Ultimate HTML and CSS Series - Part 1

Introduction

  • Instructor: Ash Hamadani
  • Objective: Learn to build fast, beautiful, responsive websites.
  • Assumption: No prior knowledge of HTML or CSS.
  • Structure:
    • Part 1: Fundamentals of web development with HTML and CSS.
    • Part 2: Advanced concepts.
    • Part 3: Build a responsive website for an imaginary cloud hosting company, Mashify.

Tools Required

  • Code Editor: Recommended - Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
    • Extensions:
      • Prettier: Code formatter.
      • Live Server: Launches a development web server.
  • Browser: Recommended - Google Chrome

Web Development Overview

  • Front End: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Back End: Database, server-side logic
  • Development Roles:
    • Front-End Developer
    • Back-End Developer
    • Full-Stack Developer

Key Concepts

  • HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Structure of web pages.
  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): Styling and layout of web pages.
  • JavaScript: Adds functionality and interactivity.

Learning Path

  • HTML & CSS: 3-5 hours/day for about 1-1.5 months.
  • JavaScript: Additional 6 weeks.
  • Front-End Frameworks:
    • React: Recommended, popular.
  • Version Control: Git is essential, 2 weeks to learn.

Understanding the Web

  • Client-Server Model:
    • Client: Browser
    • Server: Hosts web content
  • HTTP/HTTPS: Protocols for data exchange
  • URL (Uniform Resource Locator): Address of a resource on the web
  • DOM (Document Object Model): Browser's internal representation of web page structure

Inspecting Web Traffic

  • Chrome DevTools: Accessed via View > Developer > Developer Tools
  • Network Tab: Inspect HTTP requests and responses
    • HTTP Request: Sent by client
    • HTTP Response: Sent by server

Building a Basic HTML Page

  • HTML Boilerplate: Use doctype declaration.
  • Basic Structure:
    • <!DOCTYPE html>
    • <html>, <head>, <body>
  • VS Code Extensions:
    • Live Server: Automatically refreshes pages.
  • Styling with CSS:
    • Add CSS within <style> tags in <head>.

HTML and CSS Best Practices

  • Formatting Code: Use Prettier for consistent code formatting.
  • HTML Structure: Use semantic elements and proper hierarchy.
  • Accessibility: Use alt attributes for images.

Useful HTML Elements

  • Text Elements:
    • <p>: Paragraphs
    • <em>: Emphasis (italic by default)
    • <strong>: Strong importance (bold by default)
  • Heading Elements: <h1> to <h6> for document hierarchy.
  • Special Characters: Use HTML entities, e.g., &lt; for <.
  • Links: <a> with href for internal and external linking.
  • Images:
    • <img> with src and alt attributes
  • CSS Styling: Use CSS properties for styling, e.g., width, border-radius.

Additional Tools and Tips

  • Validation:
    • HTML Validator: Check for errors and warnings.
    • CSS Validator: Ensure proper styling rules.
  • Browser DevTools: Inspect elements, styles, and debug web pages.

Conclusion

  • Instructor's Offer: Full course available with additional features and guarantee.
  • Next Steps: Continue learning HTML and CSS in detail before advancing to JavaScript.

Full transcript