Guide Beginner CC BY 4.0 Updated 2026-02-08

Intro to HTML: Build Your First Page

A short, practical guide with exercises to help beginners build a clean, semantic HTML page.

By IMAV Learning Team Provider: IMAV Open Library Updated 2026-02-08 35 min read 1 min read
Official source
HTMLWeb DevelopmentFoundations

What you will learn

  • Core HTML structure and semantic tags
  • How to organize a simple page layout
  • Practical exercises with step-by-step guidance

Why it matters

Understanding HTML gives you control over the structure of every web page you will ever build. This guide focuses on clean, readable markup that scales.

Quick start

  1. Create a file named index.html.
  2. Paste the starter template below.
  3. Open it in your browser and make small changes.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <title>My First Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <header>
      <h1>Hello, HTML</h1>
    </header>
    <main>
      <p>Start editing and refresh your browser.</p>
    </main>
  </body>
</html>

Key concepts

  • Semantic tags improve accessibility and SEO.
  • Keep headings in order (h1 then h2, etc.).
  • Use lists for grouped information.

Who this is for

Beginners who want a quick, hands-on intro to HTML before moving to CSS and JavaScript.

Next steps

  • Learn CSS for layout and styling.
  • Build a small landing page and publish it.

Changelog

  • 2026-02-08 — Expanded quick start section and added exercises.
  • 2026-01-20 — Initial guide release.