The <HTML> tag tells the computer, or server, that the
website is made in HTML format. There are other formats, however,
HTML is the easiest to comprehend - and learn.
The <HEAD>
tag is where you put your <TITLE> tag. In between the
<TITLE> tag and the </TITLE> tag is where you put your heading. This
is the heading that will appear in the Title bar at the top of the
window.
The <BODY> tag opens what will appear on your website. After
the <BODY> tag you usually choose your colour scheme. This can be
changed throughout the Webpage to give more variety. The BGCOLOR is
your background color, the TEXT is the colour your text will be if you
have not designated another colour, the LINK is the colour all of your
links will appear in, the ALINK is the colour your link turns to when the link is clicked on.
The VLINK is the colour your LINK will become
after that link has been visited.
After all of this, you can write what
ever it is you want written on your website. You can add pictures and
change the font and font colour throughout. After you have completed
this process (which will be explained more in depth later), you then
need to close your body with the </BODY> tag and the HTML document with
the </HTML> tag. Always save your work as an HTML document. Some say
to save as HTM, but just stick with HTML, for example 'homepage.html'.
Now, you know the very basics, but now you need to get more in depth.
The following tags will allow you to make a more professional looking
website.
<IMG SRC=""> This is how you put a picture on your website. In between
the quotation marks you put the filename of your picture (usually a
JPEG or GIF file).
<P> This is the start of a new paragraph.
<BR> This puts a break in your sentence or between pictures. Basically it is like an ENTER
key.
<A HREF="HTTP://WWW.something.COM"> This is how put a link on your webpage. After you type in this tab, you then type in some words
or put an image after the tab. Following the words or image you wish to be used as your link, you put the </A> tab to complete the link and end it. Otherwise,
your link will continue throughout the rest of your webpage.
<HR> This puts a horizontal line on your page; this is an excellent way
to separate the different parts of your site. You can also change the
HR colour by using the <HR COLOR=""> tag instead.
<FONT FACE=""> This tag allows you to change your font style. Remember,
though, not all computers have the same fonts, therefore, you may put
one font but it will show another font on someone else's computer
screen.
<FONT COLOR=""> This changes the font colour. If you only want that
font colour for a sentence, or one paragraph, you need to close it with
the </FONT> tag. Then the colour will return to your TEXT colour or to
the new one you designate for it.
If you wish to change both your font style AND colour use this instead:
<FONT FACE="" COLOR="">Then close it with your </FONT> tag.
<B> This bolds your text. When you no longer need your text to be
bolded close it with the </B> tag.
<U> This underlines your text. When you no longer need your text to
be underlined close it with the </U> tag.
<I> This Italicizes your text. When you no longer need your text to
be Italicized close it with the </I> tag.
<P ALIGN=""> This changes your paragraph or picture alignment.
You only need to use this if you wish to place your text or image to
the LEFT or RIGHT.
<CENTER> This is how you place your text or image to the center. To end
it, you close it by using the </CENTER> tag.
Now, these are the very basics. You can use NOTEPAD, which is usually
on every computer, to build your website without being on the Internet.
This way you can work offline and save a lot of Internet time. Now, if
you have Cable Internet, then you have nothing to worry about.
The next step is to find a server. There are many servers that will
allow you to build your website at no cost. A few are:
All you need to do is make an account with them and start building.
They also have templates for those who do not know HTML or how to build
a site.
This is another excellent web host.
You can also go to
and search for 'free website
builders', or any other form you can think of.
