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To create a basic website with HTML, make a project folder, save a page as index.html, add structured content, and open the file in a browser. HTML supplies the page’s content and structure; CSS is what you add when you want to control its appearance and layout. Viewing the file on your computer is a preview, not the same as publishing it on the web.

What you need to make your first HTML website

You can begin with one plain-text file and a web browser. Choose a small goal—a profile, hobby page, or simple landing page—so you can focus on learning how the parts fit together. You do not need hosting or a domain to write and preview the first page.

  • A text editor that can save plain-text files.
  • A web browser to open and preview your page.
  • A project folder to keep the page and any related files together.

HTML elements describe content such as headings, paragraphs, lists, links, and images. CSS is a separate language for visual presentation: colors, fonts, spacing, and layout. A basic static page can work without CSS, but HTML alone is not a substitute for advanced styling, dynamic application behavior, data storage, payment handling, or a backend.

Create a project folder and an index.html file

  1. Create a folder for the project, for example my-first-site.
  2. Inside it, create a plain-text file named index.html. This is the conventional filename for a simple website’s home page.
  3. Open index.html in your text editor and enter the following complete page:
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <title>My First Website</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <header>
      <h1>Welcome to my website</h1>
      <p>A little about me and what I enjoy.</p>
    </header>

    <main>
      <h2>My interests</h2>
      <ul>
        <li>Reading</li>
        <li>Gardening</li>
        <li>Learning HTML</li>
      </ul>
      <p>Visit <a href="https://example.com">an example website</a>.</p>
    </main>
  </body>
</html>

What the basic elements do

  • <!doctype html> declares an HTML document.
  • <html lang="en"> wraps the document and identifies its language.
  • <head> holds page information, including the character encoding, viewport setting, and browser-tab title.
  • <body> contains the content visitors see.
  • <header> and <main> identify meaningful page regions; headings, paragraphs, lists, and links express the content within them.

Replace the example text with your own. Keep headings in a meaningful order and use an element for what the content is, rather than choosing elements only for how they look.

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Preview the page in a browser

  1. Save index.html in your project folder.
  2. Open the folder and open index.html in a web browser. You can also use the browser’s open-file command and select the file.
  3. Check that the text and link appear, then return to the editor, change something, save, and reload the browser tab.

The browser is rendering a local file on your computer. Other people cannot visit it through a public web address just because it opens in your browser.

Add CSS when you want to change the design

Keep the HTML responsible for structure and content, then add a separate stylesheet for presentation. Create styles.css next to index.html, add a link to it inside the page’s <head>, and write a few rules.

<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
body {
  max-width: 42rem;
  margin: 2rem auto;
  padding: 0 1rem;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

h1 {
  color: #2457a7;
}

Save both files and reload the page. If you change the stylesheet but see no difference, confirm it is named exactly styles.css, is in the same folder as index.html, and is linked with the matching relative path.

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Put the website online when it is ready

Publishing is a separate step from creating and previewing the page. A host stores and serves the website files; a domain is the public web address people use to reach the site. Neither is required just to write your first HTML page.

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For a small static site, a repository-connected static host can make publishing relatively straightforward. Separately purchasing hosting and a domain can offer more control over files and configuration. Before choosing, compare setup effort, control, custom-domain support, provider limits, and current costs. Pricing and terms vary by provider and can change, so check the provider’s current documentation rather than relying on a generic price estimate.

MDN’s first-website guide is designed for people new to web technologies and covers building and publishing a first site. Its publishing guide describes beginner publishing approaches, including repository-based publishing and separately arranged hosting and domains.

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Troubleshoot a page that does not look right

The browser shows code or downloads the file

Check that the filename ends in .html, not .txt, and open it in a browser rather than the text editor. Some editors append .txt when saving; rename the file to index.html if needed.

Your edits do not appear

Save the file in the editor, then reload the browser tab. Make sure you edited the same index.html that you opened, rather than a duplicate in another folder.

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The CSS has no effect

Verify the stylesheet’s exact filename and location, and make sure the href in the <link> element points to it. A misspelled name or a stylesheet in a different folder requires a different path.

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A link does not open the intended page

Inspect the value inside href. A full address should include its protocol, such as https://; a link to another file must use a path that matches the project’s folder structure.

The website is not reachable by other people

A local file is only a preview on your computer. To make the page public, publish the files through a host and use the host’s public address, with a domain if you choose to configure one.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Or skip the browser setup

If you already have a public URL and need a screenshot rather than instructions for writing HTML, ScreenshotNeo can return a website screenshot or PDF through one GET request. For example, this cURL command saves a WebP screenshot of the example page:

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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for the API details. Cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. An MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a basic web page with only HTML?

Yes. HTML can structure and display a basic static page. Add CSS for styling; more advanced dynamic behavior or data-backed features require capabilities beyond a simple HTML page.

What is the difference between a website’s host and its domain?

A host stores and serves the site’s files. A domain is the public address visitors use to reach it.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.