Learn to Code HTML and CSS Develop and Style Websites from Scratch

Author

Reads 1K

Close-up view of HTML and CSS code displayed on a computer screen, ideal for programming and technology themes.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up view of HTML and CSS code displayed on a computer screen, ideal for programming and technology themes.

Learning to code HTML and CSS is an essential skill for anyone looking to develop and style websites from scratch. HTML is the backbone of a website, providing the structure and content.

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, and it's used to create the basic elements of a website, such as headings, paragraphs, and links.

With HTML, you can create a basic website in just a few lines of code. For example, a simple HTML file can be created with just a few lines of code, including the doctype declaration, the html tag, and the body tag.

HTML is not just about creating the structure of a website, but also about providing the content that users will see and interact with.

Additional reading: Create with Code Unity Learn

Getting Started

To get started with learning HTML and CSS, welcome to the world of web styling.

You can create an HTML file in pretty much any text editor, but it's recommended to use a dedicated code editor like Visual Studio Code.

Credit: youtube.com, HTML & CSS Full Course - Beginner to Pro

Creating your first HTML file is a great way to learn about its structure, so let's get started with that.

An evergreen CSS course and reference, like the one you're currently in, can help you level up your web styling expertise over time.

You can use whatever code editor you're most comfortable with, but it's worth considering the options mentioned earlier.

HTML Fundamentals

Building a website is all about getting the basics right, and that starts with HTML. HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, which is the standard markup language used to create web pages.

Go forth and build websites, the ol' mantra for developers. HTML is the backbone of a website, providing the structure and content that users see.

To get started with HTML, you need to learn the fundamentals, which include understanding how to write HTML tags, attributes, and elements.

The Basics

HTML is a code that defines the structure and content of a web page.

Credit: youtube.com, HTML Tutorial for Beginners

It's quite easy to work with, thanks to entities called tags that wrap various parts of your content.

These tags are the building blocks of HTML, and you'll use them to create a web page that's visually appealing and easy to navigate.

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, which might sound complicated, but trust me, it's not.

You can start writing HTML code once you understand the basics, and it's a great skill to have, especially if you're interested in web development.

CSS, on the other hand, is a styling language that tells the browser how to present an HTML document to the user.

It's like adding a coat of paint to a house - CSS adds visual flair to your web page.

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and it's a crucial part of web development, especially if you want your web page to look professional and polished.

You can use CSS preprocessors like Sass and LESS to make your coding process more efficient, but that's a topic for another lesson.

Web Technologies

Credit: youtube.com, HTML Tutorial for Beginners: HTML Crash Course

HTML is the code that defines the structure and content of a web page. You can create an HTML file in pretty much any text editor, but it's recommended to use a dedicated code editor.

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, making it easy to work with. We have entities called tags which you use to wrap various parts of your content with.

To write HTML code, you need to know what HTML is. It's the code that defines the structure and content of a web page.

You can use one of the dedicated code editors mentioned earlier to create an HTML file. I'm going to be using Visual Studio Code, but you can use whatever you're most comfortable with.

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets and it's a styling language. It tells the browser how to present an HTML document to the user.

Frontend Masters has a very in-depth bootcamp they give away for free. It's 21 hours of high-quality video learning.

Go forth and build websites, the ol' ShopTalk mantra!

CSS Fundamentals

Credit: youtube.com, HTML & CSS Full Course for free 🌎

CSS is a fundamental part of styling websites, and it's surprisingly easy to learn. You tell the browser which elements you want to style, and then how you want to style them.

The first step in this process is using CSS Selectors, which are like a map that shows the browser which elements to target. There are different types of selectors you can use, but the way CSS works is pretty simple.

To style your website, you'll need to understand how CSS Selectors work, which will be covered in the next lesson.

The Div Element

The div element is a block-level element, which means it can be really useful for grouping content and allowing it to be styled with CSS.

Divs can be styled with CSS, making them a great tool for customizing the look and feel of a website.

A div is a generic container, or division, that can hold any type of content on a website.

With the ability to group content, divs can help keep your website's code organized and easy to manage.

Recommended read: Automated Website Backup

Selectors

Credit: youtube.com, Learn Every CSS Selector In 20 Minutes

To apply CSS to an element, you need to select it. CSS provides a number of different ways to do this.

The way CSS works is pretty simple: you tell the browser which elements you want to style, and then how you want to style them.

You can use CSS Selectors to identify the elements you want to style. CSS Selectors are the first part of the process, and they're essential to getting started with CSS.

The anatomy of a CSS selector is something you'll want to understand, and it's explained in detail in the next lesson.

CSS Properties

CSS Properties are the building blocks of styling your website. They allow you to control the appearance of your HTML elements.

Margin and padding properties can be used together to create space between elements. For example, setting a margin of 10px can create a gap between two elements, while setting a padding of 20px can add space between the element's content and its border.

Border properties, such as border-style and border-width, can be used to add visual interest to your elements. A border-style of solid can create a solid line around an element, while a border-width of 2px can make the border thicker or thinner.

Specificity

Credit: youtube.com, Learn CSS Specificity In 11 Minutes

Specificity is a crucial aspect of the cascade, and it's what determines which styles take precedence when there are multiple rules applied to the same element.

In CSS, specificity is calculated by looking at the number of IDs, classes, and tags in a selector. This means that an ID selector will always be more specific than a class selector, and a class selector will always be more specific than a tag selector.

The more specific a selector is, the higher it will be in the cascade, and the more weight it will have in determining the final style of an element. This means that a highly specific selector can override less specific selectors, even if the less specific selectors come later in the stylesheet.

In general, specificity is a good thing, as it allows us to be more precise in our styling and avoid unintended consequences. However, it can also be a challenge to balance specificity with maintainability and flexibility in our code.

Display Property

Credit: youtube.com, Learn CSS display property in 4 minutes! 🧱

The display property is a fundamental aspect of CSS, and understanding it can make a huge difference in how you lay out your web pages.

CSS boxes have an outer display type that determines whether the box is block or inline.

The display property in CSS is closely tied to the physical shape of the screen, which is a characteristic of physical properties, not logical properties.

Pseudo

Pseudo-elements are like adding or targeting an extra element without having to add more HTML.

You can use pseudo-elements to target specific parts of an element, such as the first letter of a paragraph.

A pseudo-element is like adding or targeting an extra element without having to add more HTML.

They have a variety of roles and you can learn about them in this module.

Pseudo-elements can be used to add visual effects to elements, like a drop cap.

You can target the first line of a paragraph with the :first-line pseudo-element.

Functions

Credit: youtube.com, 24+ ESSENTIAL CSS Properties Every Web Developer Should Know

CSS has a range of inbuilt functions that can be used to perform various tasks, such as calculating values or manipulating colors.

Some key functions include the ability to use mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to calculate values.

For example, you can use the `calc()` function to calculate a value based on a mathematical expression, like `width: calc(100px + 20px);`.

The `rgb()` function allows you to specify a color using its red, green, and blue components, like `background-color: rgb(255, 0, 0);`.

You can also use the `hsl()` function to specify a color using its hue, saturation, and lightness, like `background-color: hsl(0, 100%, 50%);`.

Gradients

Gradients are a powerful tool in CSS that can be used to create a wide range of visual effects.

You can use gradients to create a whole host of useful effects without needing to create an image using a graphics application.

CSS gradients can be used to add depth and visual interest to your website or application.

Credit: youtube.com, Everything You Need To Know About CSS Gradients

They can be used to create subtle background effects or bold, eye-catching designs.

By using gradients, you can create a unique and professional look for your website or application.

Gradients can be used to create a seamless transition between different design elements.

This can be especially useful for creating a cohesive and polished design.

You can use gradients to create a sense of movement or energy in your design.

This can be achieved by using a gradient that moves from one color to another.

Gradients can also be used to create a sense of depth or dimensionality in your design.

This can be achieved by using a gradient that fades from one color to another.

Working with Borders

Working with Borders is a crucial aspect of CSS, and it's controlled by the border properties. The third box in the box model is the border box, which can be adjusted using these properties.

You can control the size of the border box, and its styles, using the border properties. The box model is divided into four main parts: margin, border, padding, and content.

Credit: youtube.com, 27. How to work with border properties in CSS

The border properties allow you to set the width and style of the border, as well as its color. You can set the border width to a specific value, such as 1px or 2px.

The border style can be set to a variety of options, including solid, dashed, dotted, and more. The border color can be set to a specific color using a hex code or a color name.

By adjusting the border properties, you can create a wide range of styles and designs for your web pages.

Working with Color

Working with Color is a fundamental aspect of CSS, and it's where you'll spend a lot of time. You'll be applying color to text, backgrounds, borders, and more.

Gradients can be used to create a whole host of useful effects, without needing to create an image using a graphics application. They're a great way to add some visual interest to your designs.

Credit: youtube.com, Learn CSS colors in 4 minutes! 🖌️

You'll be using two color-related properties 90% of the time: color and background color. These properties are the foundation of working with color in CSS.

There are several different ways to specify color in CSS, including using color values. Color values are the most commonly used method for specifying color in CSS.

CSS Styling

Styling text in CSS is something you'll be doing quite often, because the majority of a given web page is usually textual content. You can style text in pretty much any way you want using CSS properties.

The majority of a web page is textual content, and styling text is a crucial part of web design. You can use CSS to change font sizes, colors, and styles to make your text stand out.

You can also style lists in CSS to make them more visually appealing. You can get rid of or replace bullets, and display lists horizontally. This is useful for structuring an ingredient list in a recipe, a table of contents, or navigation.

CSS also allows you to style backgrounds, including color and image backgrounds. You can use CSS gradients or normal images as backgrounds to add visual interest to your web page.

Color

Credit: youtube.com, Customizing dashboards: CSS, Color palettes, and Theming

Color is everywhere in CSS, from text to button backgrounds, section backgrounds, to border colors.

You'll likely be applying color-related styles first in CSS, as it's a fundamental aspect of visual design.

There are several ways to specify color in CSS, and in this module, we'll focus on the most commonly used color values.

You'll be using two properties 90% of the time to apply color in CSS, which will be covered in the next lesson.

Spacing

Spacing is a crucial aspect of CSS styling, and it's essential to select the best method for your layout method and component needs.

The layout method you're using should influence your spacing decisions, as different methods have different requirements. For example, if you're using a grid layout, you'll need to consider the grid gaps and track spacing.

To determine the best spacing method, consider the component you're building. If it's a simple layout, a fixed spacing value might be sufficient. However, if you're building a complex layout, a more flexible spacing approach, such as using a margin or padding value in relation to the component's size, could be more effective.

Spacing can greatly impact the visual flow and user experience of your design.

Filters

Credit: youtube.com, 5 super useful CSS properties that don't get enough attention

Filters in CSS open up a world of creative possibilities, allowing you to apply effects that would normally be reserved for graphics applications.

With filters, you can achieve a wide range of visual effects, from subtle texture overlays to dramatic color transformations.

You can discover what's available by exploring the various filters in CSS, each with its own unique capabilities and applications.

Overflow

Overflow is how you deal with content that doesn't fit in a set parent size. You'll need to think outside the box to style overflowing content as you'll learn in this module.

At some point, you'll have to write styles to make an element bigger or smaller. Thankfully, that's super simple to do in CSS, and you can even define minimum and maximum dimensions.

You can use the knowledge you gain about styling to implement it in a real project. For instance, you could code a basic web page using HTML and CSS, like you would in a simple exercise.

Jon Duckett's book on HTML and CSS is incredibly well-designed and approachable, making it a great resource for learning.

Carrie Chambers

Senior Writer

Carrie Chambers is a seasoned blogger with years of experience in writing about a variety of topics. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and insights with others, and her writing style is engaging, informative and thought-provoking. Carrie's blog covers a wide range of subjects, from travel and lifestyle to health and wellness.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.