HTML Resources
HTML is a fairly simple language to comprehend. It is a semantic language that is used to structure content without worrying about how that content will look or act. However, it is comprised of many tags that can be difficult to remember. I’ve found that most students need a few “cheat sheets” to help them recall all of the tag options.
- w3schools.com. W3Schools is a great resource if you want to find lots of info in one place. Look to the left side of the screen for a comprehensive list of HTML tags.
- teamtreehouse.com. Treehouse has a number of free tutorials for the absolute beginner. These tutorials are well structured and easy to follow. If you want another instructor’s perspective about these subjects, give this video series a watch.
- codeschool.com. Much like Treehouse, codeschool has a few free videos for the noobie. Here are a couple good videos about HTML.
- icanbuildablog.com html cheat sheet. This is a pretty nice cheat sheet for HTML. The only caveat with this resource is that it uses inline CSS which is a big no-no. Except for very rare cases. CSS should always be written in a linked CSS document.
CSS Resources
CSS is the language used to specify how HTML content is displayed. It is a simply structured language that allows designers to write simple key/value rules for the visual qualities of content elements. It affects color, size, opacity, orientation, location, and a host of other properties. Listed below are a few resources that might help you remember the huge number of properties that CSS can control.
- lesliefranke.com CSS Cheat Sheet. A nice (though limited) cheat sheet with most of the common CSS properties and their possible values.
- w3schools.com. W3Schools is a great resource if you want to find lots of info in one place. Look to the left side of the screen for a comprehensive list of CSS tags.
- Learn CSS Layout. This is a neat little site designed to inform about the basic concepts of layout, including the box model, display, floats, and positioning. Very useful read.
Design Resources
Design is a deep, but highly subjective field of study. Some research supports our most fundamental understanding of the principles and elements of design, but good taste and design sensibilities have to intentionally cultivated. Listed below are papers about design, design galleries, and blog posts about best practices.
- unmatchedstyle.com. This is our design gallery and hosts videos, podcasts and site reviews about Web Design and UX.
- http:terrymorris.net Design Best Practices. A checklist for interface designers to use to ensure that they aren’t missing any important components of design.
- alistapart.com Responsive Web Design. Ethan Marcotte’s groundbreaking article about the specific goals of responsive web design.
- alistapart.com Samantha Warren’s initial article about Style Tiles. Style Tiles are a design tool that designers can use to show clients the visual style of a site without having to build the site straight away.