My HTML Interview Struggles 😭

When I started learning web development, I was excited about HTML & CSS. I built a ton of static websites, adding cool fonts and colors. But there was one thing I didn't focus on – interview preparation. And that came back to bite me!

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I remember my first HTML interview vividly. The interviewer asked, “Which DOCTYPE are we using?” and “What is a semantic tag?” I completely blanked out. The funny part? I had used those tags in my projects but had no clue what they were actually called! 🤦‍♂️

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That experience taught me a valuable lesson: knowing how to build websites is not enough – you need to be able to explain what you're doing in an interview.

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So today, I’m sharing all the essential HTML questions that will help you ace your interviews. Trust me, preparing for these will save you from the panic I felt. 😅

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📝 Most Common HTML Interview Questions & Answers

1️⃣ What is HTML?

Answer: HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the backbone of the web. It structures content using elements like headings, paragraphs, links, images, and lists.

2️⃣ What is DOCTYPE in HTML?

Answer: DOCTYPE declares the HTML version being used in the document. The latest version is:

<!DOCTYPE html>

This tells the browser that we are using HTML5.

3️⃣ What are semantic tags in HTML?

Answer: Semantic tags give meaning to the structure of a webpage. Examples include:

<header> – Represents the page’s header
<nav> – Defines navigation links
<article> – Represents self-contained content
<footer> – Defines footer content
<section> – Groups related content together

These help search engines and developers understand the content better.

4️⃣ What is the difference between `<div>` and `<span>`?

Answer:

<div> is a block-level element used for grouping multiple elements.
<span> is an inline element used for styling small parts of text.

Example:

<div style="background-color: yellow;">This is a div</div>
<span style="color: red;">This is a span</span>

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5️⃣ What are meta tags in HTML?

Answer: Meta tags provide metadata about a webpage. Example:

<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="description" content="Learn HTML interview questions">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">

6️⃣ What is the difference between `<strong>` and `<b>`, `<em>` and `<i>`?

Answer:

<strong> and <b> both make text bold, but <strong> has semantic meaning for importance.
<em> and <i> both italicize text, but <em> gives emphasis.

7️⃣ What are self-closing tags?

Answer: Self-closing tags don’t need a closing tag. Examples:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="An image">
<input type="text" placeholder="Enter text">
<hr>

8️⃣ What is the difference between absolute and relative links?

Answer:

Absolute link: Full URL including domain (e.g., https://example.com/about.html)
Relative link: Only the file path relative to the current page (e.g., about.html)

9️⃣ What is the difference between `<ul>` and `<ol>`?

Answer:

<ul> (unordered list) creates bullet points.
<ol> (ordered list) creates a numbered list.

Example:

<ul>
  <li>Apples</li>
  <li>Bananas</li>
</ul>

<ol>
  <li>First Step</li>
  <li>Second Step</li>
</ol>

🔟 What is the difference between `id` and `class`?

Answer:

id is unique and used for a single element (id="header")
class can be used on multiple elements (class="btn")

Example:

<div id="header">Unique Header</div>
<button class="btn">Click me</button>

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Bonus Questions You Should Prepare:

What are HTML attributes?
What is the difference between HTML and XHTML?
What is the purpose of the <figure> and <figcaption> tags?
What are data attributes (data-*)?
How does the <iframe> tag work?
What are the different types of input elements in HTML?
What is the difference between <label> and <legend>?
What is progressive enhancement in HTML?
How do you make an HTML element accessible?
What is the <template> tag used for?

🚀 My Advice for HTML Interview Prep

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👉 Don’t just build websites, prepare for interviews too! After creating projects, spend time reviewing common interview questions.

👉 Make your own notes in your own words. This will help you remember better.

👉 Understand the concepts, don’t just memorize definitions. If the interviewer is an old-school type, they may want textbook answers, but modern interviews focus on understanding.

👉 Practice explaining concepts out loud. Teaching someone (or pretending to) helps reinforce learning.

Need 1-on-1 interview guidance or mock interviews? I’d love to help! 😊

🎯 Book a session with me: Topmate

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Like, share, and comment if this helped! Follow me for more interview tips! 🚀

HTML Interview Prep – What I Wish I Knew Before My First Interview! 😅

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