- Paperback: 408 pages
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 4th Edition edition (7 Mar 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0764519956
- ISBN-13: 978-0764519956
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 18.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
628,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Programming > Languages > HTML & XHTML > HTML 4
- #10 in Books > Computers & Internet > New to Computing > Guidebook Series > Dummies > HTML
- #18 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Programming > Introduction to Programming > HTML
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Hard-core programmers would say that HTML is for dummies. Nonetheless, those of us who'd like to build and maintain our own Web sites but cringe at the sight of anything resembling a programming language, HTML 4 for Dummies is the hand-holding guide we need to help us through.
Given that so many HTML editors are available that do all of the site-building work for you, it's strange that the authors chose to wait until Appendix C in the back of the book to explain why you need to know HTML. Still, their reasons for learning HTML are sound and the advice they dispense is solid.
Along with going through the ins and outs of HTML tags, the authors do a fine job of explaining what design elements work and how to avoid common mistakes. The section on XHTML ensures that budding site builders have all the latest tools at their disposal.
Whether your goal is to build a simple, text-oriented Web site, or one loaded with frames and graphics and animation, HTML 4 for Dummies will put you on the right track. --John Frederick Moore, amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“…a very useful reference tool that comes with a nice selection of programs…” (PC Utilities, June 2003)
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Web and HTML. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Web and HTML. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book cover to cover some time ago to fill any gaps I may have encountered in teaching myself HTML years before. The book covers pretty much every fundamental aspect of HTML, and does a decent job of explaining it all, too. Some other reviews state the book is difficult to follow. Unfortunately, even HTML has a degree of complexity, and this book explains HTML in as simplified a way as is possible.
This book falls short not through a lack of content, but in that it's fairly dated in today's context. After reading the entire book, you'll be able to create websites that would have looked very much bog-standard even in the late 90s. The real designs start coming together when you start working with programs like Photoshop and Flash alongside hard coding HTML. With several graphic design tools and these foundational HTML techniques, you'll be able to create websites. Don't be under the illusion that you'll finish the book and be able to throw together a contemporary website.
Another point worth mentioning is that XHTML is the current standard, and soon HTML 4 will be fairly obsolete. It may be a couple of years down the line, but that's roughly the learning curve for getting reasonably good at web design. I'd reccommend any XHTML book over this book, as they tend to cover everything useful (and necessary) in this book and disregard all the useless, obsolete tags that make your site look like it hasn't been updated since 1996.
However, if you simply want to learn HTML to make a basic homepage for family photos or the like, this book may be all you need.
This book falls short not through a lack of content, but in that it's fairly dated in today's context. After reading the entire book, you'll be able to create websites that would have looked very much bog-standard even in the late 90s. The real designs start coming together when you start working with programs like Photoshop and Flash alongside hard coding HTML. With several graphic design tools and these foundational HTML techniques, you'll be able to create websites. Don't be under the illusion that you'll finish the book and be able to throw together a contemporary website.
Another point worth mentioning is that XHTML is the current standard, and soon HTML 4 will be fairly obsolete. It may be a couple of years down the line, but that's roughly the learning curve for getting reasonably good at web design. I'd reccommend any XHTML book over this book, as they tend to cover everything useful (and necessary) in this book and disregard all the useless, obsolete tags that make your site look like it hasn't been updated since 1996.
However, if you simply want to learn HTML to make a basic homepage for family photos or the like, this book may be all you need.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great book - before reading it I had no idea how to use HTML, now I have my own webpage. This gently leads the reader through a range of HTML skills, from creating a very basic page, to one incorporating tables, frames, graphics, javascript and other more complex elements. The language used is simple to follow, without being patronising, and technical details are included, but explained in full. There are also many useful links to websites of interest, as well as the Dummies website, which is a valuable resource. Well worth buying - with this book creating a web page entirely from scratch is made simple.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Quite unsuitable for "Dummies", with virtually no prior knowledge of HTML.
One would expect a book like this to present the material in an orderly, structured manner, one thing at a time, starting with the most elementary concepts. This, unfortunately, is not the case. One only has to get as far as page 18 to encounter such terms as HTML, XHTML,(X)HTML, Document Type Definitions, Standard Generalised Markup Language, W3C, XHTML Transitional, XHTML Frameset, etc. Strong stuff indeed for a raw beginner!
And the reader may well be forgiven for wondering "what on earth is (X)HTML? Is this yet another variety of HTML?"
There should be frequent opportunities for self-testing, to ensure that the reader has thoroughly understood what he has read and practiced, before moving on to the next step. I found no evidence of any such testing.
On page 17 will be found the statement that "This book uses the XHTML 1.0 specification as its basis". Confusing indeed, when one recalls that the book is supposed to deal with "HTML for Dummies", and NOT with "XHTML for Dummies".
My main criticizm is that I could never be sure about which of the varieties of HTML the authors were talking at any given time - plain HTML, XHTML or (X)HTML, whatever that may be! What am I actually trying to learn here? A huge source of frustration! The book may well contain accurate information, but this is of no use whatsoever to a beginner unless he is absolutely clear from the outset about WHAT he is learning. The book makes a meal of what ought to be a straightforward subject, producing a sense of irritation in the reader. It does not even begin to approach the excellent standard of other Dummies books that I have read. My first reaction to this book was one of frustration followed by a sense of regret that I had purchased it in the first place.
You have probably guessed by now that I do not recommend it at all!
One would expect a book like this to present the material in an orderly, structured manner, one thing at a time, starting with the most elementary concepts. This, unfortunately, is not the case. One only has to get as far as page 18 to encounter such terms as HTML, XHTML,(X)HTML, Document Type Definitions, Standard Generalised Markup Language, W3C, XHTML Transitional, XHTML Frameset, etc. Strong stuff indeed for a raw beginner!
And the reader may well be forgiven for wondering "what on earth is (X)HTML? Is this yet another variety of HTML?"
There should be frequent opportunities for self-testing, to ensure that the reader has thoroughly understood what he has read and practiced, before moving on to the next step. I found no evidence of any such testing.
On page 17 will be found the statement that "This book uses the XHTML 1.0 specification as its basis". Confusing indeed, when one recalls that the book is supposed to deal with "HTML for Dummies", and NOT with "XHTML for Dummies".
My main criticizm is that I could never be sure about which of the varieties of HTML the authors were talking at any given time - plain HTML, XHTML or (X)HTML, whatever that may be! What am I actually trying to learn here? A huge source of frustration! The book may well contain accurate information, but this is of no use whatsoever to a beginner unless he is absolutely clear from the outset about WHAT he is learning. The book makes a meal of what ought to be a straightforward subject, producing a sense of irritation in the reader. It does not even begin to approach the excellent standard of other Dummies books that I have read. My first reaction to this book was one of frustration followed by a sense of regret that I had purchased it in the first place.
You have probably guessed by now that I do not recommend it at all!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I'm a dummy no more!
Fantastic book. The only text I have on HTML. Enabled me to get to grips with my own website www.totalastronomy.com. Crammed with useful tips for the beginner.
Published on 30 May 2008 by Dr. S. A. Mitton
A Superb Beginners Guide to Creating Websites
I was very pleased with this book. I hadn't done any html work before and after reading this book I have created my own website. I've actually surprised myself! Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2007 by Emma
Proof is in the Pudding
Let's face it, reviews are all very well and indeed there are lots of good ones (including some on this page), however, it's proof we all want. Read more
Published on 8 April 2007 by gadget
Poorly organised, AVOID
Although this book has a lot of good information, it is strung together poorly rendering it a bad choice for a first book. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2002 by Gramsci
Fantastic - What can I say...?
Now this is one great book - the more fiendly, interesting reference to some very useful hypertext markup language. It's fun for all ages -I'm only 12! Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2001 by rory.smith@virgin.net
The HTML 4 for dummies really helped me in Designing webpage
This book is great for alll we designers, buy it!
Published on 6 Sep 1999
It taught me everything I needed to know.
Easy to use. Easy to read. Written in plain english.
Published on 20 Aug 1999
A POORLY written dummies book
The book was awful. The book always goes of subject by showing you the design of a webpage instead of the actual HTML. Get another book on HTML if you want to learn HTML. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 1999
A POORLY written dummies book
The book was awful. The book always goes of subject by showing you the design of a webpage instead of the actual HTML. Get another book on HTML if you want to learn HTML. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 1999
A dull read, better books are available on the subject.
This was okay, but I think the CD on the back was the bes thing about it...having included a trial of Homesite 4. Read more
Published on 6 July 1999
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