HTML 4: Understanding the Basics HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create web pages. It provides structure for the content of a webpage, including text, images, links, and other elements. HTML 4 was released in 1999 and served as a major update to the language, introducing new features and improvements to the previous version, HTML 3.2. In this article, we will explore the basics of HTML 4, including its key features, elements, and tags. Key Features of HTML 4: HTML 4 introduced several key features to the language, including support for style sheets, scripting languages, and Unicode. Style sheets allow web developers to control the layout and appearance of a webpage, while scripting languages such as JavaScript enable interactive features and dynamic content. Additionally, HTML 4 added support for Unicode, allowing web pages to display international characters and symbols. Elements and Tags: HTML 4 includes a wide range of elements and tags that are used to create the structure and content of a webpage. Some of the most commonly used elements include: -

: The root element of an HTML page, encompassing the entire document. -: Contains meta-information about the document, including the page title and links to stylesheets and scripts. -: Sets the title of the webpage, which is displayed in the browser's title bar or tab. -

: Contains the main content of the webpage, including text, images, and other elements. -

: Represents a paragraph of text on the webpage. - : Creates a hyperlink to another webpage or resource. - : Inserts an image into the webpage. These elements are used in combination with various tags to define the structure and formatting of the content. For example, the

-

tags are used to create headings of various levels, while the

• and
  1. tags are used to create unordered and ordered lists, respectively. HTML 4 also introduced several new elements and attributes to support improved accessibility and multimedia, such as thefor embedding external content and the for associating form controls with their labels. Transition to HTML 5: While HTML 4 was a significant update to the language, it has since been superseded by HTML 5, which introduced even more features and improvements. HTML 5 includes support for new multimedia elements, includingand, as well as new semantic elements such as,, and

     to better organize and structure the content of a webpage. Despite these advancements, HTML 4 remains an important part of web development history and is still supported by modern web browsers. Many web pages created using HTML 4 are still in use today, and understanding its fundamentals can provide a strong foundation for learning HTML 5 and other web technologies. In conclusion, HTML 4 introduced several key features and improvements to the language, including support for style sheets, scripting languages, and Unicode. Its elements and tags provide the building blocks for creating the structure and content of a webpage. While HTML 5 has since surpassed HTML 4 with new features and enhancements, understanding the basics of HTML 4 is still valuable for web developers and enthusiasts alike.