Beginning Web Development - Overview

This entry attempts to summarize, in point form, the various topics I have covered in the last two years related to basic web development, including links to relevant entries where appropriate. If you were using this blog for the purposes of study or to make a web page from scratch, this would probably be the place to start. It will be followed by "Beginning CSS Web Development".

Create a basic HTML document:

• Describe HTML, its significance to the web, and why you should learn to code in a simple text editor, rather than going straight to a tool like Dreamweaver.

• Distinguish between the XML Prolog and doctype.

• Define an HTML tag.

• Set up the appropriate simple text editor.

• Add the four basic HTML tags found in all web pages.

• Add text to a web page, and define the text using <p> and heading tags.

• Identify deprecated tags and layout methods.

• Define the rules for naming web page files., add a file extension, save a web page, and view it in a browser.

• Add additional text elements such as <acronymn>, <address>, <cite>, <dfn>, and <abbr>.

• Add a horizontal rule.

• Distinguish between block and inline elements.

• Add HTML entities to a web page such as copyright, trademark, accents and correct quotes and apostrophes.

• Add an HTML comment to a web page.

• Validate the document.

Add lists, tables and links to a web page.

• Define the three kinds of lists in HTML.

• Create an ordered, unordered and definition list.

• Create an accessible table for appropriate data.

• Distinguish between local (relative) and remote (absolute) links.

• Create two pages in the same location and link them to each other using a local link.

• Add remote links to other web sites.

• Add an anchor to jump to a location in a web page.

• Create a navigation list for a web site.

Manipulate and insert bitmap images into web pages.

• Describe image file types that can be used in web pages including the properties, advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Download free images from the web.

• Insert an image into a web page with appropriate accessibility.

• Open, crop, resize, and save images for the web using Adobe Photoshop.

• Create a basic favicon.

Add an accessible form to a web page:

• Discuss methods of processing forms, such as JavaScript, CGI scripts and PHP scripts, and how creating a form is entirely separate from processing the information on it.

• Discuss the rules and guidelines for creating a useable and accessible form.

• Create a form, legend and fieldset.

• Add a label and an associated text input field.

• Add accessibility features to a form.

• Add a text area and drop-down option.

• Distinguish between radio buttons and checkboxes and use them in the context of a form.

• Add a submit button.

• Discuss other input types.

Host a web site under a domain name.

• Summarize the TLD system.

• Choose an appropriate domain name and registrar for your site.

• Define the criteria for choosing a hosting provider.

• Define local and remote copies of a web site.

• Upload a site using FTP

Register a site with search engines and optimize page rank.

• Explore the site registration pages for the top three search engines.

• Understand the semantic web of relationships between pages, and how this relationship is a prime contributor to both page rank and associated search terms.

• Determine that your web page uses appropriate semantic markup.

• Enhance a web page by adding appropriate Dublin core meta tags.

• Prepare counter-arguments for common SEO requests.