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HTML5: The Definitive Guide

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Put everthing you need to know about HTML at your fingertips. Truly a definitive guide, this book covers HTML in detail, explaining how each element works and how it interacts with other elements. You’ll find hundreds of examples that show you how to create effective web pages, and how to master advanced features. The seventh edition has been updated to cover HTML5, the rise of WHATWG, new browser capabilities, and an expanded list of elements.

HTML: The Definitive Guide covers the latest HTML5 magic while still guiding those of you who need to work with older code. From basic syntax and semantics to guidelines aimed at helping you develop your own distinctive style, this classic is all you need to become fluent in the language of web design. Even the most experienced web professionals will want to keep close at hand.

This book:


Covers new HTML5 markup and best practices
Clearly indicates old and obsolete features
Includes coverage of new media features like audio and video
Explores HTML on mobile devices
Expands coverage of JavaScript
Examples emphasize clean maintainable code

800 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

20 people are currently reading
276 people want to read

About the author

Chuck Musciano

4 books2 followers
Chuck Musciano is the Chief Information Officer for Martin Marietta Materials, a $2.2B producer of construction aggregates. He is responsible for all aspects of Martin Marietta's enterprise information systems, including their ERP, document management, point of sale, business intelligence, and customer information systems.

From 1997 to 2003, Chuck served as CIO of the American Kennel Club. During this time, he architected the AKC's transition from a legacy mainframe system to a client/server web-based computing environment. Using this platform, the AKC was able to re-engineer all of its principal business processes, reducing costs and increasing customer services as a result.

Mr. Musciano began his computing career in 1982 with Harris Corporation, enjoying a variety of roles during his 15 year tenure there. He has written compilers, developed user interfaces, designed multiprocessors, developed shared Unix data centers, and was fortunate enough to be a part of the seminal development of the ARPANet and Internet.

Mr. Musciano is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. He resides in Cary, NC with his wife and children.

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5 stars
162 (32%)
4 stars
170 (34%)
3 stars
123 (25%)
2 stars
25 (5%)
1 star
11 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Lady3jane.
32 reviews
August 5, 2007
Taught myself HTML with this book. I still reference it frequently, though I should probably get something a little more up to date.
Profile Image for Ais.
140 reviews37 followers
November 22, 2013
Not "finished" but I have read what I needed to for now.
Profile Image for Joe.
151 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2018
I read an earlier version of this book in 1996 to teach myself HTML. It was a great initial introduction to web development and made for an excellent desk reference once I worked through it. Unlike some of the more visual books on the market now, this one made you read and think. The version I read pre-dated CSS and XML/XHTML. A classic for any “old school” web developer who hand-codes websites. Although there are better books on the market now, I felt obligated to review this one because it literally helped launch my career in web project management and now I currently own a web design studio. Having a keen knowledge of HTML can help web designers and developers (include CSS now though, you need both structure and style).
Profile Image for Monica Willyard Moen.
1,385 reviews32 followers
May 11, 2017
This is an excellent resource for anyone doing web design. However, it is a bit dated since it covers XHTML and HTML 4, not 5. Still, its explanations of things make it a valuable reference that I still use rather often.
Profile Image for Maggie.
5 reviews
August 19, 2019
As always, wonderful in this contemporary with no fantastic or sf elements but a surprise in the ending!
Profile Image for Dan.
232 reviews176 followers
June 15, 2012
This was the book I learned HTML from! It was very clear, great descriptions of browser support and caveats, plus all of the brand new HTML 4 stuff ( tags were my favorite!) There was lots of sample code, a lot of it about Kumquats... which I didn't believe was a real fruit until I finally saw one in real life, almost ten years later.
Profile Image for Kathy.
28 reviews
February 22, 2009
required text for a class - not too difficult and interseting.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
142 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2008
Another book I've read for by Web publishing class. Very useful, but very long and dense. It will be a great reference work to have on my shelf!
Profile Image for Ashley.
Author 1 book19 followers
July 13, 2009
If you're teaching yourself HTML, you must own this book. It includes all the basics, along with sample pages coded and displayed. Very well explained.
Profile Image for Rullsenberg.
12 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2012
Basic html coding skills still carry me a long way. This remains helpful, even after all these years!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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