What is the difference between the three HTML, CSS and JavaScript?
What is the difference between the
three HTML, CSS and JavaScript?
Ever
wonder how Web sites work? Really work, I mean?! Some years ago I was with my
nephew and marveled at the colourful and interactive appearance of his
favourite gaming website. I was asked by him, ‘Uncle, how do they make all
this? It was then that I found out the significance of having a working
knowledge of the three primary components of the web: HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Today, I want to tell you about these in a manner that's easy to understand for
anyone.
What Is
HTML?
The building of the entire structure. The base
fundamental of a structure.
Just as a
house has to be built, a website needs to be created. HTML is similar to the
actual structure of that house: the walls, the windows, the doors and the
rooms. HTML means HyperText Markup Language, but for now, let's just stick with
the simple term “HTML”. You don't need to know that HTML is the structure of
every website you are able to see. It is the foundation which keeps the whole
structure together.
All text
in a web page, pictures, videos and links are HTML. It's the code which tells
your browser that “This is a heading”, “This is a paragraph”, “This is a
button”, and “This is an image.” HTML is similar to the raw material. If it is
not there, then there won't be a website. It's the bedrock on which all the
rest of the building is constructed.
What Is
CSS?
Now,
suppose that you've created that house using HTML. The walls have been erected,
the doors are installed, but it's all of the same white and dull. This is where
the CSS can help. The paint, wallpaper, flooring and furniture of your website
is styled by CSS. It's the beauty that makes it nice.
From the
colours of the text, the size of the buttons, the images for the background,
the spacing between the various sections and basically anything that will make
your website look good visually, it's all the responsibility of CSS. Any
website that's attractive is using a nice blue theme, or that has rounded
buttons or text that looks in a particular font—all this is CSS working.
There's no new content added to CSS, it simply makes current content look
pretty.
What Is
JavaScript?
Each of the children has a smart, interactive
part.
Let's now
return to our house metaphor. It's well structured (HTML) and looks great
(CSS). What about if you would desire items to move, respond and react? But, if
you want a light switch that can turn the lights on and off after clicking,
what then? JavaScript comes in handy here.
The
website's "brain" is java script. What makes things interactive is
it. JavaScript validates the form when it is submitted – it tests the form to
ensure that it has been completed. When the mouse rolls over a button, and it
changes colour, it's JavaScript. All of those things you see on the website –
when you play a video, see animations, scroll and something changes – is all
JavaScript doing smart things in the background. JavaScript is what makes the
website interesting to you, the viewer, and what it responds to.
What is
the relationship between the parts?
The great
thing is they don't operate alone! They work collaboratively as a team. It's
structured with HTML, styled with CSS and is made to work with JavaScript.
Imagine a typical smartphone these days. The actual body of the cell phone is
similar to HTML: it is the framework. The display, colors and design are
similar to CSS – and they look great! All the apps and the operating system
itself are similar to JavaScript—they actually do something.
If you're
on a site such as YouTube or Instagram, you're using all three. HTML is the
structure of the page (what you see), CSS is the gorgeous design and layout
(why it looks so nice), and the ability to scroll through your stream, click on
videos and upload photos (the interactive magic) is all JavaScript.
What's
the point of this?
If you're
thinking about website design, website development, or simply the way the
internet functions, comprehending these three innovations is the initial step.
No need to learn anything about the technical aspects. All you have to keep in
mind: HTML is the structure, CSS is the style and JS is the interactivity.
If you
want to be a web developer, you'd better understand your favorite websites or
you just want to be tech-savvy and know the difference between these three
languages will help you to appreciate the websites you use daily. Each time you
surf the web, you're witnessing the high-changing cooperation of HTML, CSS and
JavaScript.
When the
next time someone asks you how websites are created, you can give a confident
answer, based on the house analogy. It's quite simple, and it's that genius.
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