1.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction to HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

HTML is short for Hypertext Markup Language. It was first developed by Tim Berners-
Lee in 1990, HTML is used to create electronic documents (called pages) that are displayed on
the World Wide Web. Each page contains a series of connections to other pages
called hyperlinks. HTML code ensures the proper formatting of text and images so that
our Internet browser may display them. Without HTML a browser would not know how to display
text as elements or load images or other elements. HTML describes the structure of a web
page semantically and originally included cues for the appearance of the document.HTML also
provides a basic structure of the page, upon which Cascading Style Sheets are overlaid to change
its appearance.

HTML elements are the building blocks of HTML pages. With HTML constructs, images and
other objects such as interactive forms may be embedded into the rendered page. HTML provides
a means to create structured documents by denoting structural semantics for text such as headings,
paragraphs, lists, links, quotes and other items. HTML elements are delineated by tags, written
using angle brackets. Tags such as <img /> and <input /> directly introduce content into the

page. Other tags such as <p> surround and provide information about document text and may

include other tags as sub-elements. Browsers do not display the HTML tags, but use them to
interpret the content of the page.

1.2 History
In 1980, physicist Tim Berners-Lee, a contractor at CERN, proposed and prototyped ENQUIRE,
a system for CERN researchers to use and share documents. In 1989, Berners-Lee wrote a memo
proposing an Internet-based hypertext system. Berners-Lee specified HTML and wrote the
browser and server software in late 1990. That year, Berners-Lee and CERN data systems
engineer Robert Cailliau collaborated on a joint request for funding, but the project was not
formally adopted by CERN. In his personal notes from 1990 he listed "some of the many areas in
which hypertext is used" and put an encyclopedia first.

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The first publicly available description of HTML was a document called "HTML Tags", first
mentioned on the Internet by Tim Berners-Lee in late 1991. It describes 18 elements comprising
the initial, relatively simple design of HTML. Except for the hyperlink tag, these were strongly
influenced by SGML guide, an in-house Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)-based
documentation format at CERN. Eleven of these elements still exist in HTML 4.

Berners-Lee considered HTML to be an application of SGML. It was formally defined as such by

the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) with the mid-1993 publication of the first proposal for
an HTML specification, the "Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)" Internet Draft by Berners-
Lee and Dan Connolly, which included an SGML Document type definition to define the
grammar.

Further development under the auspices of the IETF was stalled by competing interests. Since
1996, the HTML specifications have been maintained, with input from commercial software
vendors, by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). However, in 2000, HTML also became an
international standard (ISO/IEC15445:2000). HTML 4.01 was published in late 1999, with further
errata published through 2001. In 2004, development began on HTML5 in the Web Hypertext
Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG), which became a joint deliverable with the
W3C in 2008, and completed and standardized on 28 October 2014.

2. VERSIONS OF HTML

2.1 HTML 1.0 (1989 - 1994)

The first version of HTML that supported inline images and text controls. HTML 1.0 was very
limited in terms of styling and presentation of content. In HTML 1.0 for example, we could not
use tables or frames, specify fonts, change page background, or use forms because of these
limitations, every web page created with HTML 1.0 looked the same with similar background and
the type of font used.HTML 1.0 was only supported by Linux (a non-graphical browser running
on UNIX) and Mosaic. There are total 16 tags in HTML 1.0. So a new version was released which
is HTML 2.0.

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2.2 HTML 2.0 (1995)

HTML 2.0 was considerably improved to support forms with limited set of form elements such as
text boxes, and option buttons, change of page background, use of tables. Between HTML 1.0 and
HTML 2.0 W3C was formed. There are total 43 new tags and 13 old tags so, total 56 tags are
present in HTML 2.0. Here, need of tables and styling was required so, a new version was formed
which is HTML 3.20.

2.3 HTML 3.20 (1997)

This version included support for creating tables and expanded options for form elements. This
version also allowed web pages to include complex mathematical equations. Although HTML 3.20
specification included support for CSS (cascaded style sheets), browser manufactures did not
support it very well in their browsers. In this version 11 new tags were introduced, 49 old tags
were continued and 13 tags were removed, so total 60 tags were present in this version. In HTML
3.20 there was not any option for inserting photo, video, images and audio. So a new version was
developed which have all the features so, version 4.01 was developed.

2.4 HTML 4.01 (1999)

This version added support for style sheets and scripting ability for multimedia elements. In HTML
4.0 with the use of style sheets, it is now possible to change the appearance/look of the website by
changing just the style sheet itself. In the earlier versions of HTML making the same changes for
the entire website meant changing the styling information in the individual pages. 20 new tags
were added, 50 old tags were continued and 10 tags were removed. With some new improve
features HTML 5.0 came in the market.

2.5 HTML 5.0 (2008)

HTML 5 is a markup language used for structuring and presenting content on the World Wide
Web. It is the fifth and current major version of the HTML standard, and include XHTML. HTML
5 was first released on 22 January 2008. Its goals are to improve the language with support for the
latest multimedia and other new features. To keep the language both easily readable by peoples
and consistently understood by computers and devices such as Web browsers. So, in this version
there are total 62 old tags, 34 new tags were present and 12 tags were removed.

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3. HTML TAGS

3.1 HTML 1.0 tags

Tags Functions

<A> Defines a hyperlink.

<BASE> It specifies the base URL/target for all relative URLs in a document.

<DD> Tag was used to describe an item in a definition list.

<DIR> Tag is used to list directory titles.

<DL> Tag defines a description list.

<H1>, ...<H6> Tag defines the heading.

<MENU> Tag defines a list/menu of commands.

<PLAINTEXT> This tag indicates that all following text is to be taken literally, up to the
end of the file.

<DT> Tag defines a term/name in a description list.

<P> Defines a paragraph.

<TITLE> Defines a title for the document.

<LI> Defines a list item.

<UL> Tag defines an unordered (bulleted) list.

<NEXTID> This is usually generated by automated markup systems as a portion of

anchors within this particular document.

<LISTING> Tag is used to define the style of the list item marker.

<ISINDEX> Tag used to put a text area in the document for querying.

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3.2 HTML 2.0 tags

3.2.1 HTML 2.0 Old tags

Tags Functions

<!--> Comment

<A> Defines a hyperlink.

<DIR> Tag is used to list directory titles.

<DL> Tag defines a description list.

<H1>, ...<H6> Tag defines the heading.

<ISINDEX> Tag used to put a text area in the document for querying.

<LI> Defines a list item.

<OBJECT> This tag indicates that all following text is to be taken literally, up to the
end of the file.

<PLAINTEXT> This tag indicates that all following text is to be taken literally, up to the
end of the file.
<UL> Tag defines an unordered (bulleted) list.

3.2.2 HTML 2.0 New tags

Tags Functions

<B> This tag is used to create a 'b' element, which represents bold text in an
HTML document.
<BASE> Improved Base address

<BODY> This tag defines the document's body

<BR> Line Break

<BLOCKQUOTE> This tag defines a long quotation.

<CODE> Code

<CAPTION> Defines a table cation.

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 <COL> Specifies column properties for each column within a <colgroup>
element

<COLGROUP> Specifies a group of one or more columns in a table for formatting.

<EM> Emphasized

<FORM> The <form> tag is used to create an HTML form

<HEAD> This element is a container for all the head elements.

<HTML> This tag tells the browser that this is an HTML document.

<I> Italic

<INPUT> Form Input

<KBD> Keyboard

<LINK> Link

<META> This tag provides metadata about the HTML document.

<MENU> Menu List

<OL> This tag defines an ordered list.

<OPTION> Defines an option in a drop-down list

<PRE> Preformatted Text

<STRONG> Strong

<SELECT> Form select

<SAMP> Sample

<STRIKE> This tag specifies strikethrough text.

<THEAD> Groups the header content in a table

<TABLE> Defines a table.

<TEXTAREA> Form text area.

<TFOOT> Groups the footer content in a table

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3.3 HTML 3.20 tags

3.3.1 HTML 3.20 Old tags

Tags Functions

<B> This tag is used to create a 'b' element, which represents bold text in an
HTML document.
<BASE> Improved Base address

<BODY> This tag defines the document's body

<BR> Line Break

<BLOCKQUOTE> This tag defines a long quotation.

<CODE> Code

<CAPTION> Defines a table cation.

<COL> Specifies column properties for each column within a <colgroup>

element

<EM> Emphasized

<FORM> The <form> tag is used to create an HTML form

<HEAD> This element is a container for all the head elements.

<HTML> This tag tells the browser that this is an HTML document.

<I> Italic

<INPUT> Form Input

<KBD> Keyboard

<LINK> Link

<META> This tag provides metadata about the HTML document.

<MENU> Menu List

<OL> This tag defines an ordered list.

<OPTION> Defines an option in a drop-down list

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 <PRE> Preformatted Text

<STRONG> Strong

3.3.2 HTML 3.20 New tags

Tags Functions

<BIG> This tag instructs the browser to show the enclosed text in a bigger font.

<BASEFONT> Specifies a default color, size, and font for all text in a document.

<CENTER> Defines centered text

<DIV> This tag is used to divide the structure of HTML documents.

<FONT> This tag instructs the browser to alter the text color or size.

<SMALL> This tag instructs the browser to show the enclosed text in
a smaller font.

<SUB> This tag instructs the browser to show the enclosed text as a subscript.

<SUP> This tag instructs the browser to display the enclosed text as
a superscript.

<SCRIPT> Defines a client-side script

<S> Defines text that is no longer correct

<STYLE> Defines style information for a document

<SMALL> This tag instructs the browser to show the enclosed text in
a smaller font.

<SUB> This tag instructs the browser to show the enclosed text as a subscript.

<SUP> This tag instructs the browser to display the enclosed text as
a superscript.

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3.3.3 Deprecated tags
Tags Functions

<COL> Specifies column properties for each column within a <colgroup>

element
<COLGROUP> Specifies a group of one or more columns in a table for formatting.

<DFN> Represents the defining instance of a term.

<LISTING> Tag is used to define the style of the list item marker.

<NEXTID> This is usually generated by automated markup systems as a portion of

anchors within this particular document.

<PLAINTEXT> This tag indicates that all following text is to be taken literally, up to
the end of the file.

3.4 HTML 4.01 tags

3.4.1 HTML 4.01 Old tags

Tags Functions

<!--...--> The HTML 'comments' tag is used for creating comments within our
HTML code.

<A> The HTML a tag is used for creating a hyperlink to either another
document, or somewhere within the current document.

<AREA > The HTML area tag is used for defining an area in an image map.

<B> The HTML b tag is used for specifying bold text.

<BASE> The HTML base tag is used to specify a base URI for relative links.

<BIG > The HTML big tag is used for specifying large text.

<BLOCKQUOTE> The HTML blockquote tag is used for indicating long quotations.

<BODY > The HTML body tag is used for indicating the main content section of
the HTML document. The body tag is placed between the </head> and
the </html> tags.

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 <BR > The HTML br tag is used for specifying a line break.

<CAPTION > The HTML caption tag is used for creating table captions.

<CITE > The HTML cite tag is used for indicating a citation.

<DIV > The HTML div tag is used for defining a section of our document. With
the div tag, we can group large sections of HTML elements together
and format them with CSS.

<DL > The HTML dl tag is used for declaring a definition list.

<h1>,..<h6> The HTML h1 tag is used for specifying level 1 headings. There are 6
levels of headings (h1 - h6) with h1 the most important and h6 the least
important.

<HEAD > The head element can contain other HTML tags that contain metadata.
Metadata provides information about the document such as title,
description, keywords etc.

<HR > The hr tag could be used in a scene change in a story or a transition to
another topic within a section

<I> The i element is used for style text in italics.

<INPUT > An input tag is given a type attribute to specify the type of control, and
a name attribute so that the form can make a reference to it.

<LI > The li tag is placed inside either a ol tag or a ul tag to represent each
individual item within that list.

<LINK> The link tag is often used for linking to an external style sheet.

<META > Metadata can include document description keywords. It can also be
used to refresh the page or set cookies.

<OL > Ordered lists are usually ordered by numbers (1,2,3…), letters (A,
B,C…), roman numerals (i, ii, iii…) etc.

<OPTION > The optiontag can be used as a child of a select, datalist, and
a optgroup element.

<P> The p tag is used for Paragraphs.

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 <SELECT > The select tag is used with the option tag to produce a list of options
that the user can choose from.

<STYLE > The style tag is used for styling the content.

<SUB > The sub tag is used for Subscripts.

<SUP > The sup tag is used for Superscripts.

<TABLE > Tables consist of the table element as well as other table-related
elements.

<TD > The td element is used with the table element to allow data to be
presented in the table.

<TITLE > The title is usually displayed at the top of the browser title bar.

<UL > The ul element should be used to list items that do not need to be
presented in order.

3.4.2 HTML 4.01 New tags

Tags Functions

<ACRONYM > The HTML acronym tag is used for indicating an acronym.

<APPLET > The HTML applet tag is used for embedding a Java applet within an
HTML document.

<BDO > The HTML bdo tag is used for overriding the text direction.

<BUTTON > The HTML button tag is used for creating a button within forms.

<DEL > The HTML del tag is used for markup of deleted text.

<FRAME > The HTML frame tag is used to specify each frame within a frameset.

<FIELDSET> Defines a window (a frame) in a frameset

<FRAMESET> Defines a set of frames

<IFRAME> Defines an inline frame

<INS> Defines a text that has been inserted into a document

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 <LABEL> It allows us to attach a caption/label to a control so that the user knows
what the control is for.

<NOFRAME> Defines an alternate content for users that do not support frames.

<NOSCRIPT> Defines an alternate content for users that do not support client-side
scripts.

<OBJECT> Defines an embedded object.

<OPTGROUP> Defines a group of related options in a drop-down list.

<PARAM> Defines a parameter for an object.

<Q> The q tag is used for quotation marks.

<SPAN> It is commonly used for applying styles, but can also be useful for
specifying a language, or specifying text direction.

3.4.3 Deprecated tags

Tags Functions

<BASEFONT> Specifies a default color, size, and font for all text in a document.

<CENTER> Defines centered text

<DIR> Tag is used to list directory titles.

<FONT> This tag instructs the browser to alter the text color or size.

<ISINDEX> Tag used to put a text area in the document for querying

<MENU> Menu List

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3.5 HTML 5.0 tags

3.5.1 HTML 5.0 Old tags

Tags Functions

<MENUITEM> It specifies a command that a user can invoke from a popup menu.

<BDO> Overrides the current text direction

<FIELDSET> Defines a window (a frame) in a frameset

<IFRAME> Defines an inline frame

<INS> Defines a text that has been inserted into a document

<LABEL> It allows us to attach a caption/label to a control so that the user knows

what the control is for.

<NOSCRIPT> Defines an alternate content for users that do not support client-side
scripts

<OBJECT> Defines an embedded object

<OPTGROUP> Defines a group of related options in a drop-down list

<PARAM> Defines a parameter for an object

<Q> The q tag is used for quotation marks.

<MAIN> It specifies the main content area of an HTML document.

<RB> It marks the base text component of a ruby annotation.

<RTC> It marks a ruby text container for ruby text components in a ruby
annotation.

<BUTTON> Defines a clickable button

<DEL> The HTML del tag is used for markup of deleted text.

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3.5.2 HTML 5.0 New tags
Tags Functions

<ARTICLE> It specifies an article.

<ASIDE> It specifies content aside from the page content.

<AUDIO> It specifies sound content.

<BDI> It is used for bi-directional text formatting.

<CANVAS> It is used to define graphics.

<DATA> It allows for machine readable data to be provided.

<DTALIST> It specifies an autocomplete dropdown list.

<DETAILS> It specifies details of an element.

<DIALOG> It specifies that part of an application is interactive.

<EMBED> It specifies external application or interactive content.

<FIGCAPTION> It specifies caption for the figure element.

<FIGURE> It specifies a group of media content and their caption.

<FOOTER> It specifies a footer for a section or page.

<HEADER> It specifies a group of introductory or navigational aids.

<HGROUP> It specifies a header for a section or page.

<KEYGEN> It is used to generate a key pair.

<MARK> It specifies marked text.

<METER> It specifies measurement within a predefined range

<NAV> It Specifies navigation links.

<PROGRESS> It specifies progress of a task of any kind.

<RP> It is used for the benefit of browsers that don't support ruby annotations.

<RT> It specifies the ruby text component of a ruby annotation.

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 <RUBY> It specifies a ruby annotation.

<SECTION> It specifies a section.

<SOURCE> It specifies media resources.

<SUMMARY> It specifies a summary or caption for the details element.

<TRACK> It specifies a text track for media such as video and audio.

<VIDEO> IT specifies a video.

<WBR> It specifies a line break opportunity for very long words and strings of
text with no spaces.

3.5.3 Deprecated tags

Tags Functions

<ACRONYM> The HTML acronym tag is used for indicating an acronym.

<APPLET> The HTML applet tag is used for embedding a Java applet within an
HTML document.

<FRAME> The HTML frame tag is used to specify each frame within a frameset.

<FRAMESET> Defines a set of frames

<NOFRAME> Defines an alternate content for users that do not support frames

HTML VERSION VERSION VERSION VERSION VERSION

TAGS 1 2 3 4 5
<A>     
<BASE>   
<DD>  

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 <DIR>  
<DL>    
<DT>  
<H1>,...<H6>    
<ISINDEX>  
<LI>

<LISTING>

<MENU>

<NEXTID>

<P>

<PLAINTEX
T>

<TITLE>

<UL>

<!-->

<A>

<DIR>

<DL>

<ISINDEX>

<OBJECT>

<P>

<PLAINTEX
T>

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 <UL>

<B>

<BASE>

<BLOCKQU
OTE>

<BODY>

<BR>

<CITE>

<CODE>

<EM>

<FORM>

<HEAD>

<HR>

<HTML>

<I>

<IMG>

<INPUT>

<KBD>

<LI>

<LINK>

<LISTING>

<MENU>

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 <META>

<OL>

<PRE>

<SAMP>

<SELECT>

<STRIKE>

<STRONG>

<TEXTAREA
>

<TITLE>

<TT>

<U>

<VAR>

<XMP>

<CAPTION>

<COL>

<DFN>

<MAP>

<MAP>

<OPTION>

<TABLE>

<TFOOT>

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 <TH>

<TR>

TABLE 1:- Availability of the tags in different versions of the HTML.

4 CONCLUSION
In this assignment, I have studied about the HTML, HTML versions and tags that are introduced
throughout the versions .I learned about the HTML tags that are deprecated and comparison
between the tags that are available in the latest HTML version i.e., HTML5.

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