Introduction

HTML is the core of every website on the internet. It is the markup language that structures and organizes content on a web page. While HTML is very simple to learn, there are certain typical blunders that beginners frequently make. These errors can result in poorly organized web pages, which can be problematic for both users and search engines. In this article, we will look at some frequent HTML mistakes and how to avoid them.

Forgetting to Close Tags

One of the most common HTML blunders is failing to close tags. Every HTML tag should have an opening and closing tag, and content should be inserted within those tags. When a tag is not closed, the rest of the page may be shown inaccurately, and the page's SEO may suffer as a result. For example, if a <p> tag is not closed, the browser will continue to display all of the text on the page as if it were still part of the <p> tag. This can result in a badly organized web page, as well as a decrease in the page's search engine ranking.

To avoid this error, make sure that each tag has a closing tag and that content is contained within those tags. This is extremely crucial for tags like <div>, <span>, <p>,<ul>, and <ol>. One approach to avoid this error is to use an HTML validator tool to check your code for errors. An HTML validator tool may verify your code for missing tags, unclosed tags, and other problems that can damage the display and functioning of your web page.

Using Deprecated Tags

HTML is continually developing, and certain regularly used tags are now deprecated. Deprecated tags should be avoided since modern browsers no longer support them and may create issues on your website. For example, the <center> tag was extensively used to center content on a web page, but it is now obsolete because current browsers no longer support it. Similarly, the <font> element was widely used to define font styles and colors, but it is now deprecated because CSS is preferable for styling.

To avoid this error, adopt current HTML standards and avoid deprecated tags. This means that you should build your web page with current tags such as <section>, <article>, <header>, and <footer>. You should also utilize CSS for styling and avoid utilizing deprecated tags like < center>, <font>, and <frame>. Following current HTML standards will ensure that your web page is compatible with modern browsers and will also assist to boost the SEO of your web page.

Using Inline Styles

Inline styles are CSS styles that are directly added to HTML tags. While inline styles are convenient, they might make it harder to maintain consistency across a web page and make updating the styling of a page more complicated. For example, if you use inline styles to set the font color of a paragraph to red and then decide to change it to blue, you must update every instance of the inline style in your code.

To avoid this error, use external style sheets rather than inline styles. External style sheets help you to retain uniformity across your web page and make it easy to adjust the styling of a page. To use external style sheets, you must first build a separate CSS file and then link to it in your HTML code. This allows you to define the styling of your web page in one location, making it easy to maintain consistency across your web page.

Overuse of Div Tags

Div tags are frequently used to group items together and style them. Overuse of div tags, on the other hand, can result in poorly structured HTML code that is difficult to maintain and update. This can also have an impact on your website's SEO, as search engines appreciate well-structured HTML code.

To avoid this error, use div tags selectively and adhere to a disciplined approach to arranging your HTML code. Instead of utilizing div tags for everything, consider using more particular HTML elements to structure your web page, such as <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer>. This will make it easier for visitors with impairments to understand the structure of your web page and increase its accessibility.

Non-Semantic Tags

HTML provides several tags that can be used to arrange and organize material on a web page. Some of these tags are semantic, which means they have a particular meaning and function. For example, The <h1> element is used to represent a web page's primary heading, whereas the <p> tag is used to indicate a paragraph of text. Non-semantic tags, on the other hand, lack a clear meaning and purpose and can be applied to a wide range of items.

Using non-semantic tags might make it harder to understand the structure of your web page and can have an impact on its SEO. For example, if you use a non-semantic tag like <div> to construct a button on your website, search engines may be unable to understand what that element is for.

Conclusion

HTML is the foundation of every web page, and it is critical to utilize it correctly to ensure that your web page is well-structured and accessible. By avoiding common HTML mistakes such as neglecting to close tags, using deprecated tags, utilizing inline styles, overusing div tags, and using non-semantic tags, you may ensure that your web page is optimized for both users and search engines. By adhering to HTML coding best practices, you can develop web pages that are simple to maintain and update while also providing a better experience for your users. So go ahead, experiment with your code, and have fun creating beautiful, functional web pages!