HTML Tips List

This list contains some tips on creating a usable web site in HTML. Please mail me any tips you think should be included.

  1. Always close your tags. (CENTER etc.) Even if it won’t effect anything. It makes the HTML code easier to read and if the page is updated later on then any additions will not be effected.
  2. Keep graphics size to a minimum. Crop the pictures to the smallest possible and then try decreasing the number of colours.
  3. Even if you write a page in a WYSIWIG editor, always optimize the HTML code. While they are easy to use they often include unnecessary tags where you have deleted or reformatted text. Also, if you intend submitting the page’s URL to a search engine then always optimize the header yourself.
  4. Always include alternate text to an image. This is for the benefit of people with display graphics while loading turned off. Also search engines cannot read the content of an image file and so the aspect that the picture describes might be missed.
  5. If frames are being used always include the NOFRAMES tag for the benefit of people whose browsers do not support frames.
  6. When designing a site always try to keep the style the same. Pick a style and stick to it. It makes your site more distinctive.
  7. Try to keep the number of animated gifs down. They are usually quite large files and having a lot of animation on the page can distract the user from the text.
  8. If you can use directories on your web site do so. Keep files orderly from the start or you will have to go through each HTML file changing file locations if you decide to order them later.
  9. Make good use of tables. Tables are an easy way of positioning text and pictures on your page.
  10. Be aware that the page you created may look different on different screen resolution, monitor size and browser. It is a good idea to check this from another system or e-mail people you know asking them for constructive criticism. In general, no site looks the same for every web user but you can make your site look proportioned for all users.
  11. To keep proportions the same for all screen sizes and resolutions use percentages for tables and frames etc.
  12. Never use spaces to create a space between two separate objects i.e. don’t try to position an image on the right hand side by putting half a page of spaces before the image tag. This may look fine on your browser but it is unpredictable for other users. This is not good coding.
  13. Be aware of HTML tags that are browser specific such as . Bare this in mind when coding the page and always test the page on both Netscape and Explorer.
  14. When using non-standard fonts, test these on other systems. Not everyone has the same font library.
  15. Remember the end result of a page is judged by the information that is on it and the way it is presented. Don’t get carried away with the coding. The best pages have an original style and simple coding. The more complex the page, the longer the code and the longer it will take to load.
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