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In the world of web development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are unavoidable. For new developers, it may be challenging to understand these tools. Seasoned programmers have years of struggling under their belts deciphering some of the more complex explanations. Reading documentation (and actually learning something) is an acquired skill.
Sometimes, the easiest way to learn a topic when you are first starting out is to find an analogy to help explain it. There are many creative and easy-to-understand explanations of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Here is my personal favourite:
HTML is the nouns, CSS is the adjectives, and JavaScript is the verbs.
...Great, so what does that mean?
HTML: The Nouns of the Web
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the backbone of any web page. It's responsible for the
structure and content of a website. It is your website, or rather, the state of your website as
your users see it. In essence, HTML provides the basic structure of each page of your website.
HTML defines elements such as headings, paragraphs, links, and images. Semantic HTML elements
like article, section, and nav give meaning to web content. This makes it more understandable
both for users and search engines.
CSS: The Adjectives of the Web
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the language that styles the web. Like adjectives, it describes
the style, colour, and layout of your HTML. In other words, CSS is what your website looks like.
CSS controls the visual aspects of a web page, including layout, colours, fonts, and spacing. It
allows web pages to change their appearance depending on certain factors. Adjectives can
describe nouns in different ways depending on the context. Similarly, your design may vary
depending on the user's screen size or device.
JavaScript: The Verbs of the Web
JavaScript is the programming language that brings websites to life. It's like the verbs in a
language, enabling interactivity and dynamic content. That is to say, JavaScript is what your
website does.
JavaScript allows users to interact with web pages. Clicking buttons, submitting forms, or
playing media are all made possible through JavaScript. It can update content on the page
without needing to reload the entire page. This may be an oversimplification, but roughly 98% of
websites today use JavaScript.
Conclusion
Nouns, adjectives, and verbs come together to form a coherent and engaging sentence. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript create structured, pretty, and interactive web pages. Understanding their distinct roles is the first step on a long journey of learning.
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