World Wide Web (WWW) pages that are viewed through a graphical browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator are displayed as text, graphics, and other visual elements arranged on the screen. The manner in which these elements are displayed (and the linking actions that take place when certain elements are activated) is governed by instructions embedded in an underlying source document. This document is sent from the network server machine to the browser when accessing a Web page. The browser software then interprets the instructions contained in the document and produces the displayed results. Markup TagsThis source document contains the text to be displayed along with page formatting instructions written in a special language called HyperText Markup Language (HTML). HTML is not a programming language; it is a markup language describing the arrangement and appearance of text and visual elements on a Web page, along with their associated linking actions. HTML instructions, or tags, are embedded within the text to be displayed and are enclosed inside angled brackets <...> to identify them as formatting codes. On the basis of this text and accompanying markup codes, the browser responds by displaying the page in the appropriate layout and style.Figure 1-1 shows a portion of the HTML markup language used to display the page you are current looking at. Figure 1-1. HTML Markup language for current page.
 Whenever you link to this page, the computer containing this HTML document transfers it across the network to your computer. The browser on your machine interprets the HTML codes and text, and renders the display you see on the screen. Each screen, or page, comprising a web is described by its own HTML document. Incidentally, you can view the HTML code for any page on the Web. Under the "View" menu of your browser choose "Source." The HTML listing for the page currently on screen is displayed. As you become more familiar with the HTML markup language, you can use this technique to find out how particular formatting is done and adapt it to your pages. Authoring HTML DocumentsHTML documents are plain-text, ASCII documents. As such, they can be composed with a text editor, a word processor that saves documents in text format, or by specialized HTML editors that assist the author in composing and editing documents. Once composed, the documents are saved as HTML files (using either the .html or .htm extension) for recognition by the browser software.Figure 1-1 above shows the HTML language displayed in NotePad, the basic text editor that comes with Windows. NotePad will probably be sufficient for composing relatively simple HTML documents, as will any word processor that can save files as text-only documents. As you become more experienced and your code more complex, you'll probably wish to switch to a specialized HTML editor. These editors automate typing and editing of tags and, in general, assist you in developing your pages. Figure 1-2 is a screen capture of the code for this page in an editor named HomeSite, one of the many free or shareware programs that you can find on the World Wide Web. Plus, you can find loads of other software and HTML tools at the Web Developer's Virtual Library. Figure 1-2. Screen shot of the HomeSite HTML editor.
 For present purposes, though, just keep things simple. A basic editor or word processor is all you really need. So, if you're ready to start, get your editor and browser ready and proceed to the next page. 
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