I plan on starting a website, I have been reading up on HTML, but I'm still VERY much the rookie, and I could afford someone to design my site..but I become enthralled by it all,so if this question sounds like a dumb one...chances are,it is.<br />
<br />
I have seen CSS,Java,etc, on various sites I have visited,the basics are HTML to write a page with, and all this other code is "eye candy"?<br />
<br />
Once you start your HTML then CSS and/or Jave is added to this?<br />
Thanks in advance all, I'm sure as time progress' I'll have many more questions.<!--content-->I understand it can be confusing...<br />
<br />
HTML is basically the basic building blocks. e.g. to create the site itself you use HTML tags.<br />
Example<br />
<html><br />
<head><br />
<title>here I am</title><br />
</head><br />
<body><br />
<h1>HI</h1><br />
<b>This is bold</b><br />
</body><br />
</html><br />
<br />
CSS is a (preferred) alternative to the visual HTML tags, or used to specify specific layout options for HTML tags. eg a normal H1 tag will often display text in large, black, bold text in same font used on the page. To change this you can use CSS:<br />
<br />
<br />
<style><br />
H1 { font-family: Times; <br />
size: 18px; <!-- specify excact desired size --><br />
color: red;<br />
display: inline; <!-- change to inline i/o block <br />
element --><br />
}<br />
</style><br />
<br />
<br />
The advantage of using CSS seperately from HTML is that you can link CSS sheets to your document and by making one change in one file you can change the layout on many pages at once (as the same css sheet can be linked into many documents). So should you later decide to go in and change the headline to red font then you do not have to go through all your documents to do this.<br />
<br />
Javascript is a very common client side scripting language. Basically the only interaction you have available to you on a normal HTML page (created with HMTL tags) is form fields such as drop down boxes, input elements, etc and then links. However, to DO something with information the user type in, to manipulate elements, etc then you need a simple scripting language which can do this. This is where Javascript comes in.<br />
<br />
You do not need a lot of knowledge of javascript to create webpages, but if you want more than just linking to other pages and display text and images you can probably benefit at least from an introductory knowledge of javascript. Javascript allows you to interact with the visitors in a meaningfull way. .. but this can come later.<br />
<br />
Finally note that you can also interact with the user via server side scripts (such as php, asp, perl, etc). These scripting languages are not run in the browsers, but parsed (run) by the server as the page loads. This allows you to do some calculations/evaluations, etc and display custom information to the page (instead of the same information to all users). However, this is initially more advanced than what you want to do.<br />
<br />
Start with HTML and then go to CSS and Javascript. HTML is the building blocks you need before you can work with CSS and Javascript. CSS color these blocks, Javascript moves them.<br />
<br />
I especially love Joe Burn's site for HTML tutorials (it is how everyone on the internet learned HTML I believe): <br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html">http://htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html</a><!-- m --> <br />
<br />
Here is another very good reference:<br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.123webmaster.com/Onsite/Building/ABCofHTML.html">http://www.123webmaster.com/Onsite/Buil ... fHTML.html</a><!-- m --> <br />
<br />
Go get them.. it takes time, but don't worry.. you will soon be an expert...Just take it slow.. it will be a bit confusing at first, but slowly start to make sence...<!--content-->Kenneth,<br />
Thanks, that was a most excellant reply!<!--content-->
<br />
I have seen CSS,Java,etc, on various sites I have visited,the basics are HTML to write a page with, and all this other code is "eye candy"?<br />
<br />
Once you start your HTML then CSS and/or Jave is added to this?<br />
Thanks in advance all, I'm sure as time progress' I'll have many more questions.<!--content-->I understand it can be confusing...<br />
<br />
HTML is basically the basic building blocks. e.g. to create the site itself you use HTML tags.<br />
Example<br />
<html><br />
<head><br />
<title>here I am</title><br />
</head><br />
<body><br />
<h1>HI</h1><br />
<b>This is bold</b><br />
</body><br />
</html><br />
<br />
CSS is a (preferred) alternative to the visual HTML tags, or used to specify specific layout options for HTML tags. eg a normal H1 tag will often display text in large, black, bold text in same font used on the page. To change this you can use CSS:<br />
<br />
<br />
<style><br />
H1 { font-family: Times; <br />
size: 18px; <!-- specify excact desired size --><br />
color: red;<br />
display: inline; <!-- change to inline i/o block <br />
element --><br />
}<br />
</style><br />
<br />
<br />
The advantage of using CSS seperately from HTML is that you can link CSS sheets to your document and by making one change in one file you can change the layout on many pages at once (as the same css sheet can be linked into many documents). So should you later decide to go in and change the headline to red font then you do not have to go through all your documents to do this.<br />
<br />
Javascript is a very common client side scripting language. Basically the only interaction you have available to you on a normal HTML page (created with HMTL tags) is form fields such as drop down boxes, input elements, etc and then links. However, to DO something with information the user type in, to manipulate elements, etc then you need a simple scripting language which can do this. This is where Javascript comes in.<br />
<br />
You do not need a lot of knowledge of javascript to create webpages, but if you want more than just linking to other pages and display text and images you can probably benefit at least from an introductory knowledge of javascript. Javascript allows you to interact with the visitors in a meaningfull way. .. but this can come later.<br />
<br />
Finally note that you can also interact with the user via server side scripts (such as php, asp, perl, etc). These scripting languages are not run in the browsers, but parsed (run) by the server as the page loads. This allows you to do some calculations/evaluations, etc and display custom information to the page (instead of the same information to all users). However, this is initially more advanced than what you want to do.<br />
<br />
Start with HTML and then go to CSS and Javascript. HTML is the building blocks you need before you can work with CSS and Javascript. CSS color these blocks, Javascript moves them.<br />
<br />
I especially love Joe Burn's site for HTML tutorials (it is how everyone on the internet learned HTML I believe): <br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html">http://htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html</a><!-- m --> <br />
<br />
Here is another very good reference:<br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.123webmaster.com/Onsite/Building/ABCofHTML.html">http://www.123webmaster.com/Onsite/Buil ... fHTML.html</a><!-- m --> <br />
<br />
Go get them.. it takes time, but don't worry.. you will soon be an expert...Just take it slow.. it will be a bit confusing at first, but slowly start to make sence...<!--content-->Kenneth,<br />
Thanks, that was a most excellant reply!<!--content-->