With so many apps available to help you quickly build a webpage without any HTML knowledge, many people believe there’s no need to code by hand. These popular page-building apps may seem like the best choice, but drawbacks come with their ease of use. So writing your own HTML code is still the best way to go.
Do you want to know how to learn HTML? If you’re interested in designing websites, you should know at least the basics of the primary language. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of learning to code with HTML (and CSS, by extension) and ways to achieve that.
Benefits of Learning HTML
HyperText Markup Language, or HTML, has been around for decades. It’s the standard markup language used for creating web pages. While most people correlate website design with pure HTML, the language will provide only a barebones structure and needs additional coding elements to create an appealing and responsive page.
Most HTML courses also have CSS lessons and other supplemental options.
Novice designers use apps and page builders to create and design websites for personal use. Although this seems the best way to build a site, it can pose some problems. Their drop-and-drag features can make it easier to design, but you may not be building the most efficient site.
Full Control
By writing your own code, you completely control the website and how it functions. Designers are more knowledgeable about the site since they wrote the code and didn’t rely on an app to generate any code.
If problems arise, there’s no waiting around for the app’s customer service department to respond to your request for help. With strong HTML know-how, you’ll be able to diagnose and fix whatever issues come your way.
Websites Load Faster
Page-building apps use a lot of redundancy and excessive coding. By handwriting your code, you can build a much more streamlined and efficient website that loads faster and performs better. Additionally, source code from apps could contain a lot of unnecessary metadata.
When it comes to designing a webpage, sometimes less is better. For example, one of Google’s metrics in positioning websites on their search results is how fast the main page loads. You’re more likely to get website visits if you speed up loading.
Become a Better Coder and Build Your Brand
The more you use HTML to build and design, the better you’ll become. Handwriting code is a learned skill that relies on practice and iteration. While websites can use stock designs and apps, the result is a website that doesn’t look particularly unique from the competition.
On the other hand, websites that look consistently good but provide room for customization are desirable for small business owners looking to branch out. As your knowledge of HTML grows, your design skills and unique style will become more attractive to prospective employers or clients.
Best Websites on How to Learn HTML
The best way to learn HTML is through experience and practice. At first, it could look like an entirely new language, which it most definitely is.
With time, HTML tags and their unique language will become more recognizable, and you’ll better understand how it works. However, as is common with learning any new skill, you’ll need to devote significant time and energy to practice and study.
You’ll need to start somewhere. There are plenty of online resources to get you started. From watching YouTube videos to reading online tutorials, there are plenty of sources to help you to learn HTML.
Most people benefit from structured courses that start with the basics. With so many to choose from, we’ve narrowed your search to a few of the more noteworthy ones.
Udemy
One of the more popular online course providers, Udemy, is a fantastic choice for learning HTML. They offer several courses to help you better understand the world of HTML. Their low-priced courses are highly rated and broken down into easily digestible video lectures between 5 to 15 minutes.
Each course will provide video lectures, reading materials, and assessment tests. Their programs are self-paced, so you can create a schedule to study when you want. In addition, some of their courses offer certificates upon completion of a course, which can help for college credit or future employment.
Once you’ve purchased a course, all of its materials are yours to use for reference. Udemy also has chat rooms and message boards associated with each course. These can be used when you need to ask a question about something you are unsure about.
Codecademy
A good starting point is to sign up with Codecademy. Although they don’t offer an accredited certification upon completing their course, it’s an easy-to-use, self-paced program perfect for beginners. On the other hand, if you’re a complete novice to HTML, Codecademy might be a good choice.
They offer a basic free plan that gives you access to lessons that are interactive and engaging. It teaches HTML in small chunks, making it easy to digest. On one side of your screen, you can manipulate and add code while seeing its effects on the other side. You’ll learn about the most common HTML tags used through interactive use.
Once you’ve mastered their basic lessons, you can upgrade to a paid subscription. With their Pro Lite and Pro plans, you’ll have access to even more lessons and practice material. Both of their subscription plans come with a free 7-day trial.
W3Schools
A fun and interesting way to learn the basics of HTML is with W3Schools. By signing up for a free account, you’ll have access to fun, interactive courses geared towards beginners. This self-paced, interactive platform allows you to add and change tags along with a visual display showing exactly what your changes did.
They have plenty of HTML exercises and quizzes that will introduce you to the basics of coding with HTML. There are no time limits or a set schedule; simply scroll your way down the list to complete each lesson. You can follow them in order or work on the ones that catch your interest.
W3Schools does offer a certificate after completing the course. However, there’s a fee involved. They provide a monthly paid subscription if you want to dive deeper into their lessons. Pro users can browse lessons ad-free and will gain access to their catalog of HTML video tutorials.
General Assembly Dash
General Assembly began two decades ago, offering coding classes in a brick-and-mortar setting. Since then, the company has created an online school, Dash, to provide free coding lessons.
GA Dash uses an interesting technique to guide you through the basics of coding. As you progress through lessons, you’ll build a small website for an imaginary client. This keeps the learning fun, and you’ll be able to see your skills grow as you create a website.
Dash is better suited for those serious about how to learn HTML. It provides a more structured learning environment than other free online programs. The projects cover many different coding tags and tasks and offer much more than the basics.
freeCodeCamp
This online HTML learning platform is free for anyone to use. There’s no trial period or subscription to buy at freeCodeCamp, making it an excellent choice for those who want to learn HTML coding. In addition, the courses contain over 3000 hours of coding practice lessons, so there’s plenty of information available to learn.
This platform uses video tutorials, quizzes, and extensive coursework to teach the basics of HTML coding and more. Each lesson lasts between 10 minutes to 3 hours, so there’s some variety of duration and expectations.
Although it’s recommended that you follow the course plan in order, you do have the flexibility of jumping ahead if you find a particular topic too repetitive or below your skill set. Much like other similar online courses, freeCodeCamp’s lessons are interactive. You can make coding changes and additions and see what these changes would do on an actual website.
Did you know that you can find free training courses on LinkedIn? They offer many different types, including one named HTML Essential Training. This online course offers several videos to watch that give instructions about the fundamental concepts of basic HTML code writing.
Quizzes test your knowledge and lessons; you can download them to your tablet or phone to learn and practice when not in front of your home computer or laptop. Watching all the provided videos in one sitting would take under 3 hours, but you can watch them at your leisure. It’s not required to watch them all at once.
This course is designed for beginners and is an excellent place to start if you want to learn about HTML and all it offers. Upon completion of the course, you’ll be awarded a digital certificate of completion that you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
YouTube
If you don’t have the time or interest in taking formal courses online with lesson plans and quizzes, there’s always YouTube. There are thousands of videos solely devoted to website design and how to learn HTML. Here you’ll find some of the ones that stand out, but feel free to browse around and look at the reviews, comments, and likes.
HTML Crash Course for Absolute Beginners
This hour-long video course is an excellent video to learn the basics of HTML.
HTML Tutorial for Beginners: HTML Crash Course
Another great hour-long video course, this one covers everything you’ll need to know to start coding with HTML.
Learn the Basics of HTML from Home
If you are interested in learning HTML, there are several ways to do so. First, there are thousands of YouTube videos you can spend hours watching that discuss HTML and all it encompasses. A better way, especially for those with little to no coding knowledge, is to take one or more online courses.
Many of them of geared toward beginners and have fun, interactive lesson plans to keep you interested and motivated to learn. Additionally, most online courses start you with a free trial for beginner lessons.
