Understanding HTML and CSS as a Programming Language

Author

Reads 1.3K

Colorful HTML code displayed on a computer screen for programming projects.
Credit: pexels.com, Colorful HTML code displayed on a computer screen for programming projects.

HTML and CSS may not seem like traditional programming languages at first, but they're actually a crucial part of web development.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is used to define the structure and content of web pages, with its syntax consisting of tags and attributes that provide meaning to the content.

HTML is not a programming language in the classical sense, but rather a markup language that allows developers to create the skeleton of a website.

HTML's syntax is made up of elements, attributes, and values, which are used to define the structure and content of web pages.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to control the layout and visual styling of web pages, with its syntax consisting of selectors, properties, and values that define the appearance of elements.

CSS is also not a programming language, but rather a styling language that allows developers to separate presentation from content.

A fresh viewpoint: How to Start Coding Html

What is HTML and CSS?

HTML is a markup language that helps browsers understand the structure and content of a website. It's used to create the basic layout and organization of a website.

For your interest: Basic Html Template with Css

Credit: youtube.com, What is HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?

HTML is not a programming language, but rather a way to tell the browser what to display and how to display it. This is in contrast to programming languages like JavaScript, which can change the content and behavior of a website.

HTML is made up of a series of elements, such as headings, paragraphs, and images, that are used to create the content of a website. These elements are denoted by tags, which are surrounded by angle brackets.

What?

CSS is a style language that was proposed by Hakon Wium Lie on October 10, 1994. It was designed to style content shown in a web browser.

CSS is a winner because of its ability to "cascade" the styles, which means it can rank style definitions based on the source type. This is an algorithm that defines how to combine property values originating from different sources.

CSS files have only one extension, which is .css, and are text-based like HTML files. They are designed to be analyzed by a web browser.

The latest release of CSS is version 3, published by the CSS Working Group (CSSWG).

Explore further: Html Styling Text

What is a Markup Language?

Credit: youtube.com, HTML in 5 minutes

A markup language is a document annotation that is different from the text and not a formal language that contains a set of instructions used to produce various kinds of output. But, surprisingly, it's Turing complete, which means it has certain rules that can be recognized and interpreted by a computer.

A markup language is used to create a structure for a document, like a web page, and it's responsible for developing a layout of each element on a page. HTML is a great example of a markup language.

A markup language is not a formal language that contains a set of instructions, unlike programming languages like C, C++, Java, Python, etc. It's more about describing what something should look like, rather than making it happen.

HTML, being a markup language, is a declarative language, which means it's a basic statement declaring what should exist on a web page. It's not about computation, but rather a simple statement of fact.

A different take: What Is Html Coding

Credit: youtube.com, HTML in 100 Seconds

A markup language can be recognized and interpreted by a computer, thanks to its Turing completeness. This means that it can be used to create a wide range of documents and web pages.

In the case of HTML, it's a declarative language that says things like "this webpage should contain a section, and the section should contain a header and a paragraph." It's a straightforward statement that doesn't involve any computation.

Is HTML a Programming Language?

HTML is a bit of a special case when it comes to programming languages. It's a markup language that's used to create the structure and content of web pages.

HTML by itself doesn't really "do" anything or contain any logic. It can't do math, evaluate expressions, declare variables, create functions, or manipulate data. You couldn't do addition or subtraction with HTML.

However, HTML is Turing complete, which means that it has certain rules that can be recognized and interpreted by a computer. This means that you can side with either position and be correct.

Credit: youtube.com, Is HTML a Programming Language?!?

Some people argue that HTML is a programming language because it's a formal language that contains a set of instructions used to produce various kinds of output. Others argue that it's not a programming language because it's primarily used for structural purposes, such as telling the browser which content is a header, a list, an image, and so on.

HTML is not a programming language in the classical sense, but it is a declarative language that declares what should exist on a web page. It's a simple statement of fact, rather than a series of computations that achieve an end result.

HTML is often combined with CSS, which is a style sheet language that defines the presentation of other markup languages like HTML. Together, HTML and CSS are used to create the structure and appearance of web pages.

HTML is a major part of front-end development, and it's used to codify information to be used in the browser. So, yes, you can consider HTML and CSS coding, even if it's not a traditional programming language.

HTML and CSS Basics

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

You can modify an element's style using CSS properties and definitions.

One of the common CSS properties is "color", which is used to change the text color. The possible definitions include red, blue, green, etc.

To write CSS pairs, the property name comes first, followed by a colon and the definition. The pair ends with a semicolon. For example, "color: blue;".

CSS properties like background-color also take in the name of the color.

You can use numerical values for properties like height, width, padding, and margin, followed by the measurement type, such as pixels labeled as "px".

The most common measurement type used is pixels, labeled as "px".

To change the text color, use the "color" property with a definition like "blue".

You can use "color: blue;" in your CSS code to change the text color to blue.

Here's an interesting read: Html File Type

Coding with HTML and CSS

HTML and CSS are considered coding languages, even though HTML is a markup language and not a programming language.

Credit: youtube.com, HTML, CSS, JavaScript Explained [in 4 minutes for beginners]

HTML is often combined with CSS, which describes how HTML elements should be displayed on the screen.

You can consider HTML and CSS coding because you're writing lines of code, albeit in a markup language.

HTML is a major part of front-end development, and understanding its basics is important for new coders.

Every browser uses HTML, which defines the structure of the web, so learning HTML is essential for web development.

Knowledge of HTML syntax will help you understand other programming frameworks, such as React and Vue, which use HTML-based syntax.

Understanding HTML syntax is crucial for web development, and it will make learning other programming frameworks easier.

For another approach, see: Html Coding Checker

Language and Style Sheets

CSS is not a programming language, but rather a style sheet language. This distinction is often overlooked, but it's crucial in the context of web development.

The issue with categorizing CSS as a programming language is that it can create unnecessary splits within the developer community. People often try to establish their technical skills by labeling themselves as programmers, but this can be misleading.

Credit: youtube.com, CSS in 100 Seconds

Some people may feel underpaid for their work because they've invested time and energy into a skill set that doesn't pay as well. For instance, those who have studied low-level languages may feel that their work isn't valued as much as those who work with more popular languages like JavaScript.

Hiring managers need to be able to distinguish between the technical skills of candidates, and declaring that you can program just because you know CSS can be confusing. However, this doesn't mean that CSS developers are any less skilled or valuable.

Does Language Matter?

The issue with categorizing what constitutes a genuine or legitimate programming language is that it often creates unnecessary splits within a group. People tend to focus on categorizing languages rather than working on projects.

Categorizing languages can be a way for some to demonstrate that they're doing actual development work, but it can also be a source of tension. This is because it can make others feel like their skills are being devalued.

Credit: youtube.com, Theory - Style Sheet Languages

Devaluing someone's technical proficiency because they don't know a "low-level language" can be unfair. People who have studied a low-level language but feel underpaid for their work may resent those who can make a six-figure income with a language like JavaScript.

Declaring that you can program if all you know is CSS can be misleading, as some hiring managers may not understand the distinctions between programming languages. However, this is a weak justification for dismissing someone's technical skills.

Difference Between Languages and Style Sheets

The main difference between programming languages and style sheets is that programming languages develop instructions for the computer to execute a task, while style sheets express the presentation of structured documents.

Programming languages contain logic or algorithms, whereas style sheets contain formatting instructions. CSS, for example, defines the appearance of the markup rather than how it functions.

CSS is a custom stylesheet language and does not function as a programming language, despite its technical nature. It's concerned with the appearance and presentation of web pages, not how they function.

Credit: youtube.com, Oleg Slobodskoi: JavaScript Style Sheets

However, there are some exceptions to this argument. CSS accepts math functions like calc(), and media queries are like switch statements. Custom properties are like state variables, and with the addition of some functions, one can argue that CSS has grounds for being considered a programming language by itself.

CSS is not Turing complete on its own, but when combined with a relevant HTML file and user interactions, it is. This makes it unlikely that we'll write programs in CSS and HTML since it's just not practical.

CSS is a stylesheet language rather than a programming language, and it depends on a markup language like HTML to function. It determines how our markup is shown rather than focusing on its functionality.

Here are some key differences between programming languages and style sheets:

In conclusion, the main difference between programming languages and style sheets is that programming languages develop instructions for the computer to execute a task, while style sheets express the presentation of structured documents.

Emanuel Anderson

Senior Copy Editor

Emanuel Anderson is a meticulous and detail-oriented Copy Editor with a passion for refining the written word. With a keen eye for grammar, syntax, and style, Emanuel ensures that every article that passes through their hands meets the highest standards of quality and clarity. As a seasoned editor, Emanuel has had the privilege of working on a diverse range of topics, including the latest developments in Space Exploration News.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.