HTML (HyperText Markup Language) describes the structure and meaning of web page content. It defines headings, paragraphs, links, images and forms. Joomla generates HTML from content, templates and extension output.
Document structure
The doctype declaration enables standards mode. The root html element contains head for metadata and body for page content. Head holds the character encoding, title and resource links, while body contains text and interface elements.
An element consists of tags and content where applicable. Attributes specify properties: href supplies a link destination and alt provides an image’s text alternative. Some elements, such as img, have no closing tag.
Semantics and accessibility
Headings h1–h6 express content hierarchy. Elements such as main, nav, article and footer identify page regions. Use buttons for actions and links for navigation. Form controls need clear labels.
HTML provides structure, CSS presentation and JavaScript programmatic behaviour. Visually large text does not automatically become a heading for assistive technology.
Source HTML and the DOM
The browser parses HTML into the DOM, an object tree representing the document. Scripts can modify it after loading. The original server response and the browser’s Elements panel may therefore differ.
HTML in Joomla
The editor stores article markup, while Joomla templates and extensions produce the surrounding page. Layout overrides can change output without modifying the extension’s original files. They still require checks after updates.
Untrusted HTML needs filtering. An editor preview does not replace checking the public Joomla page on a phone, with a keyboard and with enlarged text.
Summary
HTML gives a Joomla page meaningful structure. Correct semantics, labels and inspection of the final document matter more than choosing tags solely for their appearance.