Although they do exist, you don't need special computer programs to write HTML. You can just type in any word processing program, like Microsoft Word or Simple Text.

HTML uses letters, numbers and punctuation organized into groups called "tags." Each tag is situated between two brackets (like this: <tag>) so that you know when that tag begins and ends.

An HTML document will just look like a text document with tags dispersed throughout it. The brackets separate the HTML, which is hidden information, from the text that you want to display in a browser.

Check this out:
Here are a few lines of text...

Becky's Bodacious Baked Goods are the only baked goods that make you feel great! buy 'em now!!

And here's what they look like written in HTML:

<b><font color="#FF0099">Becky's Bodacious Baked Goods</font></b> are the only baked <i>goods</i> that make you feel <i>great</i>! <marquee behavior="alternate">buy 'em now!!</marquee>

As you can see, HTML tags generally travel in pairs of opening tags and closing tags. This is how the browser knows where to begin and end an HTML effect. Closing tags begin with a forward slash like this: </tag>.

In the example above, the opening italics tag <i> pairs with the closing italics tag </i>. The only thing formatted in italics is the word that is within the italics tags.