Wondering if you should learn HTML to further your career prospects?
As a generation is almost entirely dependent on the internet and social media, it is everyoneโs knowledge of how important it is to know the basics of this particular field. Even if someone is not planning on becoming a computer engineer or a web developer, they should understand at least the basic concepts of web development.
HTML or Hypertext Markup Language is one such essential, necessary tools. I feel every student who is planning to work in media marketing and web development field should learn if they want to avoid complications later in their career. In the modern-day world that has its foundations built on interconnectivity through the internet, this becomes an absolute necessity.
What is HTML?
HTML or Hypertext Markup Language, developed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990, is in simplified words, the basic building blocks of any web page on the world wide web. It defines not only the structure but also the meaning of web content. Each of these pages contains several connections to other pages on the world wide web.
These are called hyperlinks. HTML can get supported by programming languages such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and scripting languages such as JavaScript. It semantically defines the structure of a particular web page.
A series of HTML elements build HTML pages. These help in creating structured documents by assigning organized semantics for texts like lists, headings, paragraphs, links, quotes and various other items. These said elements get depicted by tags, which get inscribed using angle brackets.
What does it mean to Learn HTML?
Learning HTML would necessarily mean learning to code since it is a markup language. But it is not programming since it is not writing an algorithm. Unlike algorithm, these steps do not lead to the resolution of an issue.
HTML gets used to embed programs which get written in a scripting language like Javascript. This process influences the function and content of web pages. On the other hand, the insertion of CSS interprets the look and layout of the content.
Since its launch in 1990, HTML has had five versions to date.
HTML โ the original version published in 1990.
HTML 2 โ published on November 24, 1995.
HTML 3 โ published on January 14, 1997.
HTML 4 โ published on December 18,1997.
And the most recent and most important one โ HTML 5, which got published on October 28, 2014. This version has two sub-versions that got published in 2016 and 2017. The 2017 version, published as HTML 5.2, is the latest official version of this markup language. You need to learn HTML โ itโs more useful than you think.
Why should you learn HTML?
Now many students, especially those who are preparing to pursue careers in writing, nonprofit organization or marketing โ might have the question, โWhy do we need to learn HTML?โ The answer to that is straightforward because right now, it is one of the most useful skills any professional can have. Here are a few reasons why.
1. You get able to create your unique website.
Learning HTML would make sure you can design your unique website without any help. Sure you can create one from a website that provides you with inexpensive or free of charge templates, but not only would that mean you cannot come up with a creative website of your own, it would also make your website look like everyone elseโs. So if you want your website to be exclusive, you definitely should learn HTML.
2. You get to learn other coding languages much faster.
Since it is the most basic markup language, learning HTML would help you learn other programming languages or coding if you wish to do so later.
If you want to be more serious about your career as a web developer, you most definitely are in need to learn different coding and programming languages which all serve their unique and distinct purpose. But knowing CSS along with HTML will help you gain the ground on which you can build your career as a web developer and earn more money.
3. Itโs effortless to learn
Unlike other programming languages, HTML is far easier to understand and learn. One does not require a computer science degree to understand it. Simply the basic knowledge of the web will suffice. Though you cannot learn it in one day, even if you spend a few days to learn the basics of HTML, you will be able to make your unique web page.
4. HTML is free of cost.
One of the most remarkable and significant advantages of HTML is that it is entirely free of cost. One does not need to deal with different plugins to work with any software because HTML does not require any plugins.
One does not even have to purchase any specific software for it. If a website gets entirely developed in HTML language, one is not required to purchase any license. Thus it acts as a cost-effective method. If we look at it from a business standpoint, it is very profitable and cost-effective to say the least.
5. HTML is supported by almost all browsers.
Almost every browser, from Mozilla to Internet explorer to Safari that exists in the world support HTML. So if your website gets written in HTML, you need not worry because it is bound to show up in all browsers regardless of where it accessed through. If the program keeps it in mind to optimize the website for different browsers, it will quickly show up in any browser.
6. Design impressive business emails and corporate newsletters.
Since emails are right now one of the best online marketing tools out there, by learning HTML, you can hone your emails to your will and make them not unique but style them in powerful ways that will spark your clientโs interest. You can also customize beautiful newsletters with HTML and CSS as your weapons.
7. Build your online businesses presence from scratch.
If you are an entrepreneur with some fresh business ideas, with the help of HTML, you can build the custom website that you need without anyoneโs help. Not only will it help you develop your own business but also save you money. On the other hand, if one of your associates is the one with the business mind, you can help them build their custom website with your coding knowledge and earn some money. Either way, itโs a win-win situation for you.
8. Earn more money without changing your career choice
If you are in a field where you do not need these skills, you can still learn HTML and do some freelance works for individuals who are willing to pay for your services. Not only will your income increase, but you will also be able to create a robust portfolio with your work experience under your belt.
Even though these jobs might be time-consuming, you will be able to set your deadlines and work at your own pace. Skills like HTML and CSS are in growing demand, so making a little cash on the side will not only help you financially to pay for further education and jump-start your career, these skills will always be relevant and benefit you on the long run.
9. Make your content easy to digest
If you are a content creator or writer, one of the main concerns you will have is the readability of your content with the help of formatting such as bold, italics, headers, and colours.
Though you will have several WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors that will let you apply these formatting techniques without any help of coding, not all of them will. With a little help from HTML tags, you can design your content without depending on anything or anyone.
10. Create easy to browse content
Not only does your content, especially long term content, needs to be easy to read, but it also needs to be easy to navigate. So that people can easily find what they are looking. An easy way to do that is to create internal links in your content with the help of HTML. If you know HTML, you can easily create these internal links and make your content more professional.
Go ahead and Learn HTML!
So there you go, ten reasons for a student like you to learn HTML and unleash your full potential in the world of the web. Not only will learning HTML help people who are willing to choose a career path in web development but also content writers, finance gurus and non-profit workers. You will not need much knowledge of web development to acquire these skills, but they will help you in the long run.
Be it by earning more money or developing your own business, HTML is a skill that will only bring positive results in your career by taking up only a little of your time. Your resume will be better than your contenders, and you will always be on good terms with your colleagues (especially the tech team). Learn HTML โ a primary markup language to jump-start your career and your life.
Last Updated on by Saket Kumar
