Learn HTML is a free course on web.dev, Google's web development site, that treats HTML as more than a list of tags. It explains how to structure documents so that browsers, search engines, and assistive technologies understand them, and it is written for developers at every level, from people writing their first page to experienced developers who never studied HTML properly.
Each module is a readable article with examples and a short quiz at the end.
What the course covers
| Stage | Modules |
|---|---|
| Foundations | Overview of HTML, Document structure, Metadata |
| Meaning | Semantic HTML, Headings and sections, Attributes, Text basics |
| Content | Links, Lists, Navigation, Tables, Images, Audio and video |
| Interaction | Forms, Focus, Details and summary, Dialog |
| Beyond the basics | Template, slot, and shadow DOM, the HTML APIs, Conclusion and next steps |
Why semantics come first
The early modules insist on choosing elements for their meaning rather than their appearance: a navigation block marked up as nav, a real button instead of a clickable div, headings that follow a logical order. These choices cost nothing extra and make a page accessible to screen readers, easier to style, and clearer to search engines.
The metadata module is another practical highlight. It explains the tags that control how a page appears in search results and when shared on social networks, something many beginners only discover later.
Forms and interactive elements
The forms, focus, and dialog modules are often the most useful for working developers. They show how much behaviour browsers provide natively, such as validation, keyboard support, and modal dialogs, before any JavaScript is added.
How to use it
- Read the first three modules in order; they set up the structure every later module relies on.
- After each module, open a page you have built and check it against what you just learned.
- Use the quizzes to confirm the key points rather than skipping ahead.
- Continue with Learn CSS in this category to style the pages you have structured.
There is no certificate or graded project. The course is best used alongside hands-on practice, where its explanations help you write HTML that works for every visitor.