Why is HTML Important?
Today, you can almost build anything on the web. Or rather, people are trying to create just about everything with technology designed for the web, using the internet and the web as a foundation for both infrastructure and presentation.
In many ways, this is certainly pretty amazing, but unfortunately, many tend to forget the core idea of the web when flashy features and the latest trends vie for attention. The fundamental concept of the web is to share information and make that information available to people. This is done by marking it up with HTML. It's not more complicated than that.
However, you don't need to compromise on how you mark up information just because you want to create something cool. And you don’t have to make information inaccessible to people just because you want to build something that looks like an app.
Besides the above reasoning, there are many other arguments for writing good HTML and building products that are accessible and scalable both up and down.
- The information published is accessible to everyone, including those who need a little assistance to access it.
- New devices like smartwatches are modern but also smaller, less capable, and harder to deal with than today's computers and phones. Yet, good HTML will allow these devices to display information effectively as well.
- Older devices and computers can always access the information. HTML is a technology that is, by definition, backward-compatible, so if you ever need to access information on an older device, you can trust that it will work.
- New interfaces like voice recognition. "Siri, read DN.se for me," "Hey Google, read newyourtimes.com for me."
- For integration with other applications. Many apps and programs utilize the information published on the web within their own interfaces. I'm thinking of Apple's Reader Mode in Safari, apps like Instapaper, Pocket, and Clipboard, as well as RSS readers that compile articles.
- For integration with other systems and entirely different functionalities. The GPS in your car, a dashboard in your CMS, or something entirely new that we don’t even know will appear yet.
There you have a few reasons not to skimp on HTML when building your next super cool project. If you want to check if you’re doing a good job, just download Lynx and see…