Step 1: Basic Web
Page Elements
A basic web page has four main elements: hypertext markup
language, text, graphics, and links. You can view a description of
each of these elements by a click on its title.
Hypertext Markup Language
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Hypertext Markup Language is the code that browsers like
Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer use to "read" a web
page. A web page is a Hypertext Markup Language document.
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Netscape Composer translates your text, graphics and links
into Hypertext Markup Language for you.
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Hypertext Markup Language documents are saved with the file
extensions .html or .htm.
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When you save your web page in Composer, the .html extension
will be automatically added.
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Learning how to read and use Hypertext Markup Language is
a good idea, but it is not necessary for the beginner.
Text
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Text consists of headings, descriptions, directions, and
information that you wish to include in your web page.
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Text can be added to a web page by typing directly onto the
open Composer page.
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Text can also be added by copying and pasting a word processed
document onto the Composer page.
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As much as possible, keep text short and to the point.
Graphics
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Web page graphics are image files (photographs, icons, pictures,
cartoons, animations) that you can insert into your web page.
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Graphic files are used as backgrounds, bullets, page dividers,
signposts, illustrations, and sometimes, just for fun.
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Web graphic files typically carry the file extension .gif
or .jpg.
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There are many "ready made" free graphics collections on
the web. You can save these graphics and insert them in your web
page as needed.
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Some graphics are copyrighted and cannot be used without
permission. Permission is usually easy to obtain with a short e-mail
request to the designer. An "image source" link should be placed
under or next to a copyrighted image.
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It is a good idea to create a section of links to the graphics
collections that you use--even if they are free.
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Warning! Graphics can take a long time to load and should
be used sparingly.
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Two useful directories for image collections are:
Annabella's
HTML Help: Links to Free Graphics
About.com:
Web Clip Art Guide
Links
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Links (also called hypertext) are connectors.
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Both text and graphics can be linked.
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Links are usually used in three ways:
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Links can connect different parts of one long web page.
You can do this
in Composer by creating "Targets."
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Links can connect your web page to someone else's web page.
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Links can connect different pages of the same web site.
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A web site is simply a collection of web pages linked together.
