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Foundations of Web Design: An Introduction to HTML and CSS

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Chapter 1: Getting Started with Web Design

Welcome to the exciting world of web design! In this chapter, we'll provide you with a comprehensive overview of the essential concepts and tools you need to get started.

Foundations of Web Design: Introduction to HTML & CSS

by Thomas Michaud

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	81552 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	268 pages

What is Web Design?

Web design encompasses the creation and maintenance of websites. It involves a range of skills, including visual design, user experience (UX),and coding.

Core Technologies: HTML and CSS

Two fundamental technologies underpin web design: HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). HTML provides the structure and content of a website, while CSS controls its appearance and styling.

Understanding the Design Process

Web design follows a systematic process that includes planning, prototyping, design, development, and testing. By following a structured approach, you can ensure the success of your web projects.

Chapter 2: The Basics of HTML

HTML is the foundation of every website. In this chapter, we'll introduce you to the essential elements of HTML and how to use them effectively.

HTML Structure

HTML documents are organized into a hierarchical structure using tags. These tags define the different elements of a web page, such as headings, paragraphs, and images.

Common HTML Elements

Let's explore some of the most common HTML elements:

<html>: Defines the root element of the document
<head>: Contains information about the document (e.g., title, meta tags)
<body>: Contains the main content of the page
<h1>: Heading level 1
<p>: Paragraph
<img>: Image

Creating a Basic Web Page

Now, let's build a simple web page using HTML:

<html> <head> <title>My First Web Page</title> </head> <body> <h1>Welcome to My Website!</h1> <p>This is my first web page. It's pretty basic, but I'm excited to learn more about HTML and CSS.</p> </body> </html>

Chapter 3: Styling with CSS

Now that we have the structure of our web page, let's make it look more visually appealing using CSS.

What is CSS?

CSS is a powerful styling language that allows you to control the appearance of your website. It separates content from style, making it easier to maintain and update.

CSS Selectors

CSS selectors are used to target specific elements on the page. These selectors can be based on various attributes, such as ID, class, or element type.

CSS Properties

CSS properties define the styles applied to the selected elements. Some common properties include:

color: Sets the text color
font-family: Specifies the font
background-color: Sets the background color
margin and padding: Controls spacing around elements

Applying CSS Styles

There are two ways to apply CSS styles: inline styles and external stylesheets.

Inline Styles

Inline styles are applied directly to the HTML tag:

<h1 style="color: red">Welcome to My Website!</h1>

External Stylesheets

External stylesheets provide a centralized location to manage the styles for an entire website:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="my_stylesheet.css">

Chapter 4: Creating Layouts with HTML and CSS

In this chapter, we'll delve into the techniques for creating well-structured and visually balanced layouts using HTML and CSS.

Layout Types

There are various layout types to choose from:

Single-column layout
Multi-column layout
Grid layout
Responsive layout

HTML Structure for Layouts

HTML elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer> can be used to define the main sections of a page.

CSS Layouts with Flexbox and Grid

Flexbox and CSS Grid are powerful layout modules that provide flexible and responsive ways to create layouts.

Creating Responsive Layouts

In today's mobile-first world, it's essential to create layouts that adjust to different screen sizes. Media queries and CSS units like em and rem enable responsive designs.

Chapter 5: Advanced CSS Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics, exploring advanced CSS techniques can take your web designs to the next level.

CSS Animations

Add visual interest and interactivity to your web pages with CSS animations.

CSS Transitions

Smoothly transition between different states of an element using CSS transitions.

Media Queries

Use media queries to tailor your website's design to specific devices or screen sizes.

CSS Frameworks

Take advantage of prebuilt CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Material UI to accelerate your development process.

Congratulations! You've now laid a solid foundation in web design with HTML and CSS. With continued practice and exploration, you can create visually stunning and user-friendly websites that captivate your audience.

Foundations of Web Design: Introduction to HTML & CSS

by Thomas Michaud

4 out of 5