If you are curious about how websites are made, how the text, images, layouts, and styles are applied to a website, then you have to learn HTML and CSS. These two technologies are the basis of web development. HTML helps to create the structure of the web page, and CSS is used to apply styling to the webpage. You can imagine HTML as the skeleton of a webpage and CSS as the clothes and accessories that give it a beautiful look. In this blog, you will learn both HTML and CSS in detail, highlight their differences and help you understand when and how to use them together.
Table of Contents:
What is HTML?
HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard language used to create the structure and content of web pages. It isn’t used to make things pretty, it is only used to tell browsers what content should appear and in what order. The latest version that is used in projects is HTML5.
Features of HTML
HTML is quite popular among developers for making the structure of web pages. Here are some of the important features of HTML:
- It is simple to learn. Every beginner can write basic HTML easily.
- It uses opening and closing tags to define elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and links.
- It is platform-independent, which means it works across all browsers and devices.
- Easily integrates videos, images, audio, and more.
- It is supported by every modern browser.
Basic Structure and Example
Here’s a simple example of an HTML document:
Explanation:
- <!DOCTYPE html> is used to tell the browser that the document uses HTML5 version.
- <html> is for the rooting of all the elements of the document.
- <head> has metadata, title, and linked files.
- <meta> tags are used to provide information about HTML documents to web browsers.
- <body> tag contains the elements that need to be displayed in the browser.
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What is CSS?
CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a language used to style HTML content. It defines how the HTML elements should appear on the screen. It is used to define everything, including colors, fonts, spacing, layout, and more. The latest version that is used in projects is CSS3.
Features of CSS
CSS is more popular among web developers for applying style to HTML elements. Here are some of the important features of CSS:
- It keeps HTML clean and focuses only on structure because you will write your CSS code in a separate file.
- One CSS file can style multiple web pages.
- Helps websites look great in all screen sizes.
Types of CSS
There are three types of CSS:
1. Inline CSS
An inline CSS is used to apply styling directly within an HTML element.
Syntax:
<p style="color: blue;">This is blue text.</p>
2. Internal CSS
It is another type of CSS that is used to add styling to the webpage within the HTML document.
Syntax:
<head>
<style>
p {
color: blue;
}
</style>
</head>
3. External CSS
External CSS is another type of CSS in which you write CSS in a separate .css file, then link it to the index.html file.
Example: Link the style.css file with the index.html file
index.html File
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>External CSS Example</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
<p>Learn CSS From Intellipaat!</p>
</body>
</html>
style.css File
p{
color: blue;
background-color: lightgray;
font-size: 30px;
}
Output:
Advantages and Disadvantages of HTML
Here is the list of advantages and disadvantages of using HTML for creating a website structure:
| Advantages of HTML |
Disadvantages of HTML |
| It is easy to learn and write. |
It is only used to define content structure. |
| HTML is a markup language supported by all browsers. |
You cannot create dynamic pages without JavaScript. |
| It loads quickly on the browser due to its lightweight nature. |
It is repetitive and hard to manage in large-scale projects. |
Advantages and Disadvantages of CSS
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using CSS for styling your website:
| Advantages of CSS |
Disadvantages of CSS |
| It helps us to improve the website’s appearance |
It is complex for beginners when dealing with layouts and selectors |
| It is easy to update and maintain |
It becomes hard to manage CSS in large projects |
| It helps us to create a responsive design |
Some CSS features will not work perfectly in all browsers |
Comments are some extra lines of text within the code that are ignored by the web browsers and not displayed on the webpage. It is used by developers to make notes of code for their own understanding. Here’s how you can write comments in HTML and CSS:
<!-- This is a comment in HTML -->
/* This is a comment in CSS */
HTML vs CSS
HTML and CSS are considered the basic foundation of web development, but both are used for different purposes. Here are some of the important differences between HTML and CSS:
| Feature |
HTML |
CSS |
| Definition |
HTML is defined as a hypertext markup language used to define the structure of a webpage. |
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet. It is used to add styling to your document. |
| File Extension |
HTML files are saved with a .html extension |
CSS files are saved with a .css extension. |
| Role |
It is used to define content and layout. |
Used to define the look and style of an HTML document. |
| Syntax |
Uses tags like <p>, <h1> to define structure. |
Uses selectors like p { color: red; } |
| Dependencies |
No dependencies are needed. |
An HTML file is important for applying styling. |
| Control |
It controls the structure and layout of the webpage. |
It controls the Fonts, colors, spacing, and animations. |
| Example |
<p>Hello From Intellipaat!</p> |
p { font-size: 16px; } |
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Conclusion
HTML and CSS are the basic foundation of web development. You can’t build a single website without using both. HTML gives your page meaning and structure, while CSS makes it visually appealing and user-friendly. Whether you’re a beginner exploring web development or a designer looking to polish your skills, understanding the difference between HTML and CSS is essential. Thus, Learn HTML and CSS for creating an efficient and beautiful website.
Difference Between HTML and CSS – FAQs
Q1. Which one is better, HTML or CSS?
HTML and CSS are completely different, and both serve different purposes. HTML structures the content, while CSS styles it. You need both for a complete website.
Q2. Is it better to learn CSS or HTML first?
Start with HTML. Because it is easy, and it’s essential. Once you understand how web pages are structured, CSS becomes much easier to learn and apply.
Q3. Which is harder, CSS or HTML?
Generally, people find CSS harder, especially when dealing with layouts and responsive design. HTML is easier to learn as compared to CSS.
Q4. Which CSS is fastest?
Inline CSS loads quickly in the browser because it is a part of the HTML file, but it is not good to use inline CSS for larger projects. However, you can use External CSS for developing real-world projects.
Q5. What is <hr> in HTML?
The <hr> tag in HTML stands for “horizontal rule”. It is used to create a horizontal line on the webpage.