— City Lit tutor and UX consultant Itai Bercovier shares his top 5 reasons why it's important to learn HTML & CSS.
Communication is a human trait. We can see it throughout every step of human development. From prehistoric paintings of hands and animals in dark caves; through clay tablets writings, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the printing press, and up to our modern electronic days.
Today the internet is part of our lives. What started as a text base (The old generation 1 of the internet) then added pictures and video all the time trying to engage us as users by increasing the interactivity or the art of the possible.
Every website on the internet had to go through a process of development where a team design and code it. This team needed to account for other things such as the website working on multiple devices. Meaning, does the website works well on a large computer screen as well as it does on a mobile phone. Can the website be found when someone is looking for it in a search (we call that search engine optimisation). Finally, can users understand and use it. All this while making sure the website is pleasing to look at and works as it should.
Since the internet is now part of our everyday life learning to 'speak' the basic language that builds it such as HTML and CSS is useful in wide array of profession. The power of those coding languages is not just useful for individuals who want to be web developers but a useful addition to any CV as a wide array of work opportunities will require that basic knowledge.
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What is HTML
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is language that explain your browser how to structure content elements such as text and images on a webpage. It uses tags and attributes to indicate what these elements are, for instance if something is a paragraph or an image and render these back on the browser.
What is CSS?
Cascading Style Sheets – CSS is HTML’s sister technology which is used to control the appearance of page elements. So in short, HTML handles the content on a web page while CSS handles how it will look and feel.
5 reasons why it's important to learn HTML & CSS.
- It’s easy to master
HTML & CSS are languages built on sets of rules. If you learn the rules and the tags used, you can already understand the basics of HTML, while CSS has a simple structure that works with the gained HTML knowledge making learning the two together easier than it sounds. Learning HTML and CSS is the best way to start a journey of web development. I'd go as far as saying that HTML and CSS are easy to learn.
- HTML is the building block of the web
Understanding HTML and CSS makes learning other coding and programming languages an easier journey. By learning HTML and CSS first, you’ll develop the fundamentals that will allow you to learn languages such as JavaScript for those who want to focus on what we call the front-end or interaction design, and Python, PHP and MySQL for those who are more interested in the back-end design.
- Make your visual portfolio and your CV stand out
Equipped with the knowledge of HTML and CSS, you can create your own website that will have a bespoke look and design as opposed to using templates such as WIX or WordPress that are used widely by many individuals. You will also show potential employers you knowledge by presenting your creation.
- It is not just about building websites
Having the understanding on how to use HTML and CSS can help in updating existing websites, optimising content, creating new pages that are more focused on the user-friendly experience. Without that knowledge you will struggle to update a page. This knowledge will make more sought after in multiple industries and departments such copywriting, marketing, and advertising.
Take a copywriter as an example. Knowing how to update a website will allow a faster turnaround between you writing some news for the business and it appearing on the company website. Reducing the need for someone else to get involved. You could help update a section of the site or fix the appearance of a page without the complex reliance on expensive and time-consuming external web development.
- Understanding computer languages open doors for a new career
We said earlier that HTML and CSS is where we start the computer development journey. The tech world is growing. If we look at the past few years, we can see that even in the pandemic our usage has only increased our reliance on the web. From working remotely, staying in touch with our loved ones to shopping. We rely on it for work, our entertainment and social life. All those example (BBC, Google, Twitter, Teams...) use HTML and CSS to display the information. Therefore, companies require individuals who understand and can use those languages. If you look at the job market you will see that web development knowledge is in high demand.
In short there is definite value in learning HTML and CSS.
It is the start of a journey for those who want to code. It doesn't matter how complex a site looks it will still use HTML and CSS to display the information. So, the journey starts here. The good news is that it's not a complex start and there is plenty of friendly help and advice along the way. Plus, if you like it you can then take on additional skills such as JavaScript or PHP that will open endless career opportunities.
About the Author
Itai Bercovier
Itai currently works as a UX consultant with Mazaru. He was recently part of Google's conversation design advocacy and education team where he developed training materials, acted as a keynote speaker, delivered design sprints, and facilitated workshops. He holds an MSc in HCI. He previously led a successful Web Development degree programme and played an integral role, both in the UK and Europe, in the development and validation of multiple undergraduate degree programmes. This included chairing an international academic committee, managing academic departments, coordinating outreach, and overseeing students’ personal and professional development.
