HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the building block of the World Wide Web. Created in 1993, HTML provides web browsers with instructions on how to display web content including text, graphics, and links to other web pages. As such, HTML and the cascading style sheets (CCS) that govern design elements such as layouts, fonts, and colors are fundamentally important to structuring our daily online experiences across nearly 1 billion web pages (and counting!).

Just as today’s internet is vastly more complex than the internet of the 1990s, coding in HTML has become much more sophisticated. For example, responsive web design must ensure that pages display properly whether users access them on desktop computers, tablets, or mobile devices. Similarly, web accessibility requires pages to be designed to meet the needs of users with visual, audial, and cognitive impairments. JavaScript has also emerged as an important tool for creating interactive web experiences and applications to drive user engagement.

WYSIWYG (“what you see is what you get”) services like Wix and Squarespace allow users without HTML skills to create simple websites based on pre-existing templates. However, web development professionals must be fluent in the latest tools including HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to have the granular control over design elements and functionality required to create high-quality web pages to meet specific client needs.

The seemingly infinite growth of the World Wide Web has created steady demand for skilled web developers to design and build websites for all types of business, government, and other clients. These professionals frequently have skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as graphic design in order to make pages that are both functional and attractive.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), web developers can get started with just a high school diploma or associates degree, although many have bachelor’s degrees. With a median annual salary of $73,760 and jobs in this field expected to grow “much faster than average” according to BLS, this field offers the opportunity to earn a good salary in a fast-growing industry regardless of your educational background.

Absolutely! Coursera offers courses and Specializations in HTML and related skills like CSS and JavaScript programming that can meet the needs of beginners looking to enter the field as well as intermediate learners and professionals seeking advanced skills to take their web development career to the next level.

With Coursera, you can take courses from top-ranked universities like the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and Duke University, or learn HTML skills through hands-on Guided Projects alongside experienced instructors. And, since you can watch lectures and complete coursework on a flexible schedule, learning on Coursera is a great fit for students and mid-career professionals alike.