How does the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) structure web content?

HTML structures web content by using tags to define elements such as headings, paragraphs, links, and images on a webpage.

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard language for creating webpages. It uses a system of tags to structure and format content on the web. These tags, also known as elements, are enclosed in angle brackets and usually come in pairs with an opening tag and a closing tag. The content is placed between these tags, which instruct the web browser on how to display the content.

For instance, the <p> tag is used to define a paragraph, while the <h1> to <h6> tags are used to define headings, with <h1> being the largest and <h6> the smallest. Images and links are defined using the <img> and <a> tags respectively. There are many more tags available, each with a specific purpose, allowing for a wide range of content types and styles to be represented.

HTML also allows for the structuring of a webpage into sections using tags such as <header>, <footer>, <nav> (for navigation links), and <section>. This helps to organise the content and makes the webpage easier to navigate. Additionally, the <div> and <span> tags can be used to group other elements together, which can be useful for applying styles to multiple elements at once.

Furthermore, HTML supports the use of attributes within its tags. Attributes provide additional information about an element, such as its source in the case of an image, or its destination in the case of a link. They are included in the opening tag and consist of a name and a value.

In conclusion, HTML structures web content by using a system of tags to define and format elements. These elements can represent a wide range of content types and styles, and can be grouped and sectioned for better organisation. Attributes within the tags provide additional information, further enhancing the structure and functionality of the webpage.