THEWEBGURU.COM - The Complete Web Reference

Evolution of HTML

HTML 0

HTML 0 was the original prototype of HTML, as developed on the CERN servers. It was never released to the public, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a tool that actually functions at this level of HTML.

HTML 1.0

HTML 1.0 was the first public release of HTML that included basic document structure elements (headings, paragraphs, line breaks, etc.) as well as the ability to link to other documents and graphical elements. There are still some Web browsers, such as early versions of Lynx, that support only HTML 1.0.

HTML 2.0

HTML 2.0 was the first version of HTML to be widely used by the public. Netscape 2.0 and Mosaic 2.0 both supported this DTD, which included all the elements from HTML 1.0 as well as additional formatting tags. This release saw the introduction of forms as a way to solicit user input and create some semblance of intractability on Web pages. It was the standard for quite a lot longer than previous versions of HTML.

HTML 3.2

HTML 3.2 is the current "official" version. It includes table support, even more formatting tags, and a wider selection of attributes for more closely controlling content display. HTML 3.2 saw the explosion of color on Web pages for everything ranging from fonts to backgrounds. The <EMBED> and <APPLET> tags brought non-HTTP objects, such as sound, video, and Java applets, to Web pages. All the current full release versions of the standard Web browsers support HTML 3.2.

HTML 4.0

HTML 4.0 is quickly on its way to official status and should supplant 3.2 by the end of 1998. It is technically a proposal; that is, it's nearing the final stages of becoming a standard but is still open for suggestions and discussion. Cougar implements full support of the Cascading Style Sheets Level 1 (CSS1) standard for controlling page elements. This version of HTML also offers scripting support and advanced form markup that is geared toward making Web pages more interactive and more dynamic. Both Navigator 4.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 fully support HTML 4.0.