HTML Code Editor & Basic Syntax

If you’re ready to start coding in HTML, the first step is setting up a code editor—a tool that helps you write and manage your HTML files efficiently. Then, you’ll need to understand basic HTML syntax to create well-structured web pages.

In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ How to choose and set up a code editor for HTML
✔ The essential HTML syntax rules every beginner should know
✔ How to write your first HTML file and test it in a browser
✔ Common mistakes to avoid when writing HTML

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Choosing an HTML Code Editor

A code editor is where you’ll write and edit your HTML files. While you can use Notepad or TextEdit, a dedicated editor offers helpful features like:

Syntax highlighting (colors for tags)
Auto-completion (suggests tags as you type)
Error detection (flags mistakes early)
File management (organizes projects efficiently)

Best Free Code Editors for HTML in 2024

Editor	Best For	Download Link
VS Code	Beginners & professionals	Download Here
Sublime Text	Fast, lightweight coding	Download Here
Atom	Customizable & GitHub-friendly	Download Here
Notepad++	Simple Windows-based editing	Download Here

Recommended: VS Code (Visual Studio Code)

Free, powerful, and widely used.
Supports extensions (like Live Server for real-time previews).
Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

How to Install VS Code for HTML Development

Download & install from code.visualstudio.com.
Open VS Code and install these helpful extensions:
- Live Server (auto-refreshes your page as you code)
- Prettier (automatically formats your code)
- HTML CSS Support (auto-completes tags)
Create a new folder for your project and open it in VS Code.

Step 2: Understanding Basic HTML Syntax

HTML follows a structured format using tags, elements, and attributes.

1. Basic HTML Document Structure

Every HTML file starts with:

				
					<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
    <!-- Your content goes here -->
<script>var rocket_lcp_data = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/codersship.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"b412b71eec","url":"https:\/\/codersship.com\/html\/html-code-editor-basic-syntax","is_mobile":false,"elements":"img, video, picture, p, main, div, li, svg","width_threshold":1600,"height_threshold":700,"debug":null}</script><script data-name="wpr-lcp-beacon" src='https://codersship.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-rocket/assets/js/lcp-beacon.min.js' async></script></body>
</html>

<!DOCTYPE html> → Declares HTML5 (the latest version).
<html> → Root element wrapping all content.
<head> → Contains meta-info (title, CSS/JS links).
<body> → Holds visible content (text, images, links).

2. Common HTML Tags & Their Uses

Tag	Description	Example
`<h1>` to `<h6>`	Headings (h1 = largest)	`<h1>Main Heading</h1>`
`<p>`	Paragraph text	`<p>This is a paragraph.</p>`
`<a>`	Hyperlink (anchor tag)	`<a href="https://google.com">Google</a>`
`<img>`	Embeds an image	`<img src="photo.jpg" alt="Description">`
`<ul>`, `<ol>`, `<li>`	Lists (bullet & numbered)	`<ul><li>Item 1</li></ul>`
`<div>`	Container for styling	`<div>Content block</div>`

3. HTML Attributes (Extra Info Inside Tags)

Modify elements (e.g., links, images).
Written as name="value".

Example:

				
					<a href="https://example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example</a>

href → Specifies the link URL.
target="_blank" → Opens link in a new tab.

Step 3: Writing & Testing Your First HTML File

1. Create a New HTML File

Open your code editor (e.g., VS Code).
Create a new file (Ctrl + N or Cmd + N).
Save as index.html.

2. Write Basic HTML Code

				
					<a href="https://example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example</a>

3. Open It in a Browser

Right-click the file → Open with → Chrome/Firefox.
OR in VS Code:
- Install Live Server extension.
- Click Go Live (bottom-right corner) for auto-refresh.

Common HTML Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Missing closing tags → <p>Hello (should be <p>Hello</p>)
❌ Incorrect nesting → <p><strong>Text</p></strong> (should be <p><strong>Text</strong></p>)
❌ Using uppercase tags → <DIV> (HTML5 prefers lowercase: <div>)
❌ Forgetting alt in images → <img src="pic.jpg"> (should have alt="Description")

Next Steps: Practice & Expand Your Skills

✔ Try building a simple webpage (e.g., a personal bio).
✔ Experiment with different tags (<table>, <form>, <video>).
✔ Learn CSS to style your HTML.
✔ Explore JavaScript to add interactivity.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a code editor and learning basic HTML syntax is the foundation of web development. With tools like VS Code, writing HTML becomes faster and more efficient.

Recap:

Install VS Code (or another editor).
Learn core HTML tags & structure.
Write, save, and test your HTML files.
Avoid common syntax mistakes.

Ready to dive deeper? Check out our next guide: “Introduction to CSS: Styling Your HTML Pages.” 🎨