Welcome to our one-stop HTML reference page! We have provided links to the clearest and most thorough expanations of HTML we could find. Sometimes there may be more than one link for a subject, as the official HTML specification isn't always the easiest thing to read. Also, when both Netscape and Microsoft had about the same level of clarity we tried to be fair and include both. Have fun!

HTML Overview

A Beginner's Guide to HTML
This is a very nicely laid out intro to HTML provided by the National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA). It has the theory of HTML and all its parts in clear, easy chunks. It is not an instruction manual for creating HTML documents, but it is a very thorough introduction which will leave you with an understanding of how things work.

Introduction to HTML
This is a great introduction. It takes you step by step to an understanding of HTML and its parts.

Case Western Reserve University Introduction to HTML
This is actually an online tutorial which takes you step by step through the theory and application of HTML. A great place to go when you're not sure where to start!

Specification References

HTML 4.0 Specification
The latest recommended specification, for version 4.0 of the Hypertext Markup Language. This document is by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the international industry consortium founded in 1994 to develop common standards for the evolution of the World Wide Web. This document has been reviewed by W3C Members and other interested parties and has been endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited as a normative reference from another document.

HTML 3.2 Specification
The complete specification for version 3.2 of the Hypertext Markup Language. This document is by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the international industry consortium founded in 1994 to develop common standards for the evolution of the World Wide Web.

HTML 2.0 Specification Table of Contents
The complete specification for version 2.0 of the Hypertext Markup Language. This document is by the World Wide Web Consortium, the international industry consortium founded in 1994 to develop common standards for the evolution of the World Wide Web.

Netscape's Extensions to HTML 3.0
This is a list and explanation of Netscape's extensions to the HTML 3.0 specification. See also Netscape's extensions to HTML 2.0.

Basic Outline of an HTML Document

Minimal HTML Document
An example of a bare-bones HTML document, from the NCSA Beginner's Guide to HTML.

Hidden Tags

The META Tag (use for keywords!)
The META tag (which goes inside the HEAD tags) is great for doing descriptions of a company and listing keywords applicable to the site, among other things. This can help search engines to better index the page so people can find it easier.

Text Formatting

Logical & Physical Text Formatting
This is Netscape's explanation of logical and physical text formatting tags it will help you to understand the difference between a "Bold" tag and a "Strong" tag, when both appear to have the same result.

Phrase (Logical) Elements
This is the list of logical formatting elements available (such as "strong" or "emphasis"). For the actual tags for logical styles, see Netscape's list (you may have to scroll just a little to get to it).

Font (Physical) Styles
Basic font styles like bold, italics, subscript, superscript, etc.

Headings
This is Netscape's explanation of Headings (bold and large text used for document section headings). However, you can also use the official HTML 3.2 spec section on headings.

Font Size & Color
The official HTML 3.2 spec section on the font tag.

Character Sets Reference
This is the HTML 3.2 Spec section on what the ISO Latin-1 Character Set includes. This is a handy reference for making copyright symbols (©), cent symbols (¢), fractions (½), and degrees (74 °), etc.

Links / Anchor Tags

Linking Overview
This is Netscape's explanation of links and how they work. You can also look up the offical HTML 3.2 spec section on anchor tags.

Image Tags

Image Tags
This is Netscape's explanation of image tags and how they work. You can also look up the offical HTML 3.2 spec section on image tags.

Paragraph Formats

Netscape's Paragraph Reference
Netscape's explanation of paragraph tags, including the plain paragraph, lists, blockquotes, preformatted text, and addresses. You can also use the Official HTML 3.2 Spec section on paragraph tags: Plain Paragraph Tag | Unordered Lists | Ordered Lists | Definition Lists | Preformatted Text | Center Tag | Block Quote | Address

Tables

Table Tags Reference
This is Netscape's page about tables, and it has very clear descriptions of how to use the tags. However, you can also use the official HTML 3.2 spec section on tables.

The Table Sampler
This page is really handy for getting actual pictures of tables right next to the HTML tags that made them.

Frames

Frames - An Introduction
Netscape's description of frames and what they're used for, with links to how to use frame tags syntax and how to target windows.

Colors

Netscape's Page about Background/Foreground Color
You can change the color of your web page background and the color of the foreground fonts. This page explains the tags which control these elements of your page.

Background Color Specifier for Netscape
This is a more complete list of possible colors and their hex equivalents. If you have Netscape or Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, check out their other Color Specifier page, which has the colors right on the page!

Text Color Specifier for Netscape
This page lists the 16 text colors that Netscape allows. You can use codes for other colors, but these are the only 16 that will actually be displayed; all other codes will be mapped to one of these.

Forms

Forms Reference
This is Netscape's explanation of image tags and how they work. You can also look up the offical HTML 3.2 spec section on image tags.

Forms Examples
Text entry field | Multiple text entry fields | Checkboxes | Default entries in text fields and checkboxes | Controlling field size and max number of characters | Having more than one form in a single document | Radio boxes (toggle) | Password entry in a text field | Drop-down Selection menus | Scrollable selection lists, ability to choose multiple selections at once | Multi-line text entry boxes | Using Images with the input tag | Hidden elements in forms

Styles/Style Sheets

The Official W3C Page on Style Sheets
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is working to standardize the style sheet element of HTML. By attaching style sheets to structured documents on the web (e.g. HTML), authors and readers can make documents look the way they want without sacrificing standardization or haveing to add new HTML tags all the time. Here you can find press clippings on how style sheets are being used in the industry, updates on where the standards currently sit, and the specifications for Cascading Style Sheets.

HTML Tools

DOWNLOAD.COM (HTML list)
DOWNLOAD.COM gives a brief description next to each editor, and this list also includes helpful utilities for CGI, web color codes, and more.

Other Excellent Resources

Related USENET Newsgroups
The following newsgroups hold discussions on HTML:

• comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html
• alt.html
• alt.html.editors.webedit
• alt.hypertext

HTML Writers Guild
The Guild is a good resource for finding and interacting with others who use HTML, especially in a professional context. The Guild website contains information on their IRC channel, their mentor/apprentice program, mailing lists, and other Guild services and activities.

The Bare Bones Guide to HTML
This site is provided as a good quick reference guide, kind of a "cheat sheet", and covers HTML 3.2 tags and Netscape extensions to HTML.

The Web Developer's Virtual Library
A must-see HTML resource: useful articles, inspirational layout, good links... This site covers VRML, Java, Shockwave, and a multitude of other related web topics as well.

Webreference.com - The Webmaster's Reference Library
Lots of good content, including articles and a categorical index and search utility for finding information on Web authoring.

Yale C/AIM Web Style Manual
This manual describes the design principles used to create the pages within the Center for Advanced Instructional Media's (C/AIM) World Wide Web site. Has some good theory and examples.

WEBsmith Magazine Online
WEBsmith is a how-to magazine for technicians of the World-Wide Web, offering articles that explain how to use the tools, techniques, and ideas that make up the Web. It actually contains REAL information on "how to", not just articles "about" HTML.

Related Topics

Marketing Your Web Pages
It's important to let people know about your page once it's there. Psyberware presents some tips and strategies for Internet Marketing. Whether you just have a funny personal home page you want to share, or you have products and services to sell, check this page out!

Graphics for Web Pages
This is Psyberware's awesome compilation of the best places to get icons, clip art, animated GIFs, and textures for backgrounds to use on your web pages.

Making Animated GIFs
This is Psyberware's page on how to make animated GIFs -- fun stuff!