HTML and CSS are two fundamental technologies used to create webpages. They work together, but they have different jobs.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It describes the structure and meaning of content on a webpage.
Headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images and forms can all be represented with HTML elements.
What is CSS?
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It controls how HTML content looks and how it is arranged.
CSS can change fonts, spacing, borders, backgrounds, sizes and responsive layouts.
A simple example
Imagine a house. HTML is similar to the structure of the house: rooms, doors and windows. CSS is similar to the decoration and visual design: colors, spacing and appearance.
This is only an analogy, but it helps explain why the two technologies are separate.
Where does JavaScript fit?
JavaScript is often used to add behavior and interactivity. For example, a page might use JavaScript to open a menu, validate a form or update information without reloading the entire page.
Why learn HTML and CSS?
They are useful starting points for anyone interested in web development. Learning the difference between structure and presentation also makes website code easier to organize.
HTML gives a page meaning and structure. CSS makes that structure visually useful and responsive.