Learn About History of HTML and Its Evolution as HTML5

1. Who is the Founder of HTML? Learn About the History of a Revolutionary Language

Ever wondered who invented the HTML language that powers the internet? If we look back at the history of the internet, particularly in the 90s, we find that Tim Berners-Lee was the founder of HTML language, a physicist at CERN Labs. The HTML language was invented by chance as the researchers at CERN labs were facing issues in collaborating with each other. Therefore, the founder of HTML took the first step in the release of HTML language as a medium of sharing documents among fellow scientists, creating a history.

This idea of TIM, the founder of HTML became so popular among his fellow scientists that they started cooperating with each other using this markup language. This popularity of HTML language later became the reason for its initial release.

In this HTML tutorial, we will briefly talk about how this language was invented and with evolution it developed into what we know today as a modern HTML5 markup language. Initially starting with the simple idea of sharing documents, HTML transformed over the years to become the foundation of the internet, thus empowering most of the websites today. The following table displays a brief history of HTML, its founder, and the release date of its first version.

2. Origin, Evolution, and History of HTML5 Language

The idea of the HTML founder was widely adopted so that a huge community was developed over time which released timely versions and improvements in this markup language, and with evolution, it became today's modern HTML5.

The HTML markup language came into existence gradually with trials and tests. There are three basic phases that took part in the evolution of HTML to HTML5 language.

1. Concept Behind Release
2. Initial Release
3. Initial Usage

2.1. Concept Behind HTML Release

• Importantly, there were numerous markup languages at that time.
• However, the concept behind HTML was to make it universally adaptable and acceptable.
• Also, making it accessible for every browser and every user.
• Moreover, the markup was initially designed to manipulate simple static web pages.
• Later, it revolutionized into providing some more vibrant, meaningful, and styled content.

2.2. Initial HTML Release

• Initially, the HTML founder Tim Berners Lee initially published its description as "HTML TAGS in 1991 over the internet.
• Originally, that description included 18 tags and got a strong influence from SGML.
• Therefore, HTML is said to be extended from SGML.
• Later, that description set the foundation of modernized HTML.
• Moreover, the most advanced and stable version of HTML is HTML5.
• Its creation began by WHATWG in 2004.
• Later, it became a partner with W3C in its delivery which was completed on 28 October 2014.
• Although there are rumors about the HTML6 release date, it is not affirmed.

2.3. Initial HTML Use

• Moving further, the HTML history reveals that it was the official language of the worldwide web.
• It helped the scientists to produce their research and journals.
• Further, it enabled them to share their documents.
• Also, the features of HTML include the facility to link documents with each other with the use of hyperlinks.

3. History of Browsers

Soon after the invention of this super cool markup language, many companies began to create web browsers. The intention was to display the markup correctly and this created a war-like scene between the corporations. Thus, incorporating new HTML features in their browser day by day. This is the thrilling portion to learn and study in the HTML history chapter. The browser formation has two distinct stages.

1. Proprietary Tags
2. Standardization of the Tags

3.1. Proprietary HTML Tags

• At this stage, some companies developed their proprietary HTML tags besides browser creation and upgrading similar to webkit proprietary extensions.
• Also, these HTML tags served as their proprietary tags since they worked only in their browsers.
• For instance, the <marquee>Some Text</marquee> tag would only work in Internet Explorer.
• Likewise, the <blink>Some Text</blink> would work for the Firefox browser merely.
• Resultantly, the markup developers got a new problem relating to their markup.
• Because their HTML code would work for one browser accurately and produce odd results for another because of proprietary tags.

3.2. Standardization of HTML Tags

• In order to cope with the proprietary tags, an organization W3C worked hard to standardize the markup.
• Thus, it released several HTML versions to help the web developer and coders to get out of this mess.
• Therefore, W3C timely released HTML 2.0, HTML 3.0, HTML 4.01 and now most latest version HTML5, and hope so, soon it will release HTML6 soon.
• Perhaps, HTML6 may come with many cool features and certainly, the markup will be minimalistic.
• This is how the history of HTML versions is progressing.
• Additionally, this standardized markup practice makes it adaptable to all browsers defeating the problem of proprietary tags.

3.3. Popular Browsers

The following are some of the most popular browsers that entirely adapt to the HTML5 standards.

4. HTML Versions History

Following is the list of different HTML versions that we witnessed throughout the History of HTML5. This timeline covers all HTML versions along with their release date till HTML5. Lastly, the HTML6 release date is yet not confirmed.

HTML Versions Timeline

5. When will HTML6 Come Out after HTML5 Standard?

HTML5 language is the current living standard and there is no release date or any update about when HTML6 will be released. The new features are incrementally added over time rather than major version updates, which also predicts that there is no scheduled release date for the HMTL6 language by the W3C consortium.

Certain browsers already have some experimental proposals and features of HTML6, such as better control over DOM rendering. However, if there is some HTML6 by W3C in the future, it will likely be released with more efficiency focusing on sementic HTML elements with enhanced accessibility features.

In simple terms, HTML6 will be more likely to be closer to XML markup language, providing users more control over web components.