Web Development Basics

Grade 7 · Technology · Study Guide

An introduction to how websites are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Web development is the process of creating websites and web applications that run in a browser. Every website you visit is built using a combination of core technologies that work together to display content and allow interaction.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the backbone of any webpage. It provides the structure and content — things like headings, paragraphs, images, and links. HTML uses tags enclosed in angle brackets, like <h1> for a main heading or <p> for a paragraph.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) controls how the HTML looks. It handles colors, fonts, spacing, and layout. Without CSS, websites would just be plain black text on a white background. CSS rules are written as selectors that target HTML elements and apply style properties to them.

JavaScript adds interactivity and behavior to a webpage. It can respond to user actions like button clicks, update content without reloading the page, and communicate with servers to fetch new data. Together, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript form the foundation of front-end web development.

Websites are hosted on servers and accessed through a web browser using a URL. When you type a web address, your browser sends a request to the server, which responds by sending back the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that your browser then renders into the page you see.

Key terms

HTML
HyperText Markup Language; the standard language used to create the structure and content of webpages using tags.
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets; the language used to style and visually format HTML elements on a webpage.
JavaScript
A programming language that adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to websites.
Browser
Software that retrieves and displays web content, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
Tag
An HTML element marker enclosed in angle brackets, such as <p> or <img>, that defines structure on a webpage.
Server
A computer that stores website files and sends them to users when they request a web address.

Flashcards

HTML tag
A keyword surrounded by angle brackets (e.g., <p>) that defines an element on a webpage.
Front-end development
The part of web development focused on what users see and interact with in the browser.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator; the web address used to access a specific page or resource on the internet.
<h1>
An HTML tag used to define the most important (largest) heading on a page.
CSS selector
A pattern in CSS that targets specific HTML elements to apply styles to them.
Rendering
The process by which a browser interprets HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and displays a visual webpage.
Hyperlink
A clickable element on a webpage, created with the <a> tag, that navigates to another page or resource.
Attribute
Extra information added inside an HTML tag to modify its behavior, such as href in <a href='url'>.

Questions

  1. Which language is primarily responsible for the structure and content of a webpage?

    1. CSS
    2. JavaScript
    3. HTML
    4. Python
    Show answer

    Answer: HTML

    HTML (HyperText Markup Language) provides the structure and content of webpages using elements like headings, paragraphs, and images.

  2. CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets and is used to control the visual appearance of a webpage.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets and controls visual properties like colors, fonts, and layout.

  3. The language used to add interactivity and dynamic behavior to a website is called ______.

    Show answer

    Answer: javascript

    JavaScript is the programming language that makes webpages interactive and dynamic.

  4. What does a web browser do when you enter a URL?

    1. It edits the HTML file directly
    2. It sends a request to a server and displays the returned files
    3. It searches your computer for local files
    4. It writes new CSS for the page
    Show answer

    Answer: It sends a request to a server and displays the returned files

    When you enter a URL, your browser sends a request to a web server, which responds with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that the browser then renders.

  5. Without CSS, a webpage would still display content but would have no visual styling.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Without CSS, webpages would show their HTML content as plain, unstyled text — functional but visually bare.

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