HTML Editors

An HTML editor is a program where you write and save your HTML code. You don’t need anything fancy. Even a basic text editor works.

Do you need special software?

No. HTML files are just plain text saved with a .html extension. You can start with what’s already on your computer:

• Windows: Notepad
• Mac: TextEdit (switch to plain text first: Format > Make Plain Text)

Better options: code editors

Code editors add helpful features like color-coded syntax, auto-closing tags, and error hints.

Recommendation for beginners: VS Code. It’s free, well supported, and you’ll keep using it as you learn CSS and JavaScript.

Online editors (no install)

You can write HTML right in your browser:

• CodePen
• JSFiddle
• W3Schools “Try it Yourself” editor

These show your result instantly beside your code, which is great for quick experiments.

Handy features to look for

• Syntax highlighting: tags, attributes, and text appear in different colors.
• Auto-complete: type <h and it suggests <h1>.
• Auto-closing tags: type <p> and </p> appears.
• Live preview: see changes without manually refreshing (VS Code has a “Live Server” extension).

Try it yourself

1. Download and install VS Code from its official website.
2. Create a new folder called my-website.
3. In VS Code, choose File > Open Folder and select it.
4. Create a new file named index.html.
5. Type ! and press Tab. VS Code generates a complete HTML starter page for you.
6. Add <h1>Hello!</h1> inside <body>, save, and open the file in your browser.