HTML vs HTML5: Understanding the Differences with Coding Examples and Interview Questions

Nur A Alam Khan
3 min readMar 27, 2023

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HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a standard markup language used to create web pages. HTML has evolved over the years, with the latest version being HTML5. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between HTML and HTML5 in bullet points with coding examples and interview questions.

Differences between HTML and HTML5:

1. DOCTYPE Declaration:

  • HTML has a more complicated DOCTYPE declaration than HTML5. The DOCTYPE declaration tells the browser which version of HTML is being used.
  • HTML DOCTYPE Declaration:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

  • HTML5 DOCTYPE Declaration:

<!DOCTYPE html>

2. New Elements:

  • HTML5 introduces new elements that were not available in HTML. These elements include: <header>, <nav>, <section>, <article>, <aside>, and <footer>.

3. Form Controls:

  • HTML5 has introduced several new form controls, including:

<input type="date">: Creates a date picker.

<input type="email">: Validates email addresses.

<input type="url">: Validates URLs.

<input type="search">: Creates a search field.

<input type="color">: Creates a color picker.

4. Audio and Video Support:

HTML5 introduces support for audio and video elements. These elements allow developers to add multimedia content to their web pages without using plugins like Adobe Flash.

  • HTML5 Audio Example:

<audio controls> <source src="music.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio>

  • HTML5 Video Example:

<video width="320" height="240" controls> <source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4"> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>

Interview Questions and Answers:

  1. What is HTML?
  • HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is a standard markup language used to create web pages.

2. What is HTML5?

  • HTML5 is the latest version of HTML, with many new features and improvements over HTML.

3. What is the purpose of the DOCTYPE declaration in HTML and HTML5?

  • The DOCTYPE declaration tells the browser which version of HTML is being used.

4. What are the differences between the DOCTYPE declaration in HTML and HTML5?

  • HTML has a more complicated DOCTYPE declaration than HTML5. HTML5’s DOCTYPE declaration is simpler and more concise.

5. What are the new elements introduced in HTML5?

  • HTML5 introduces new elements that were not available in HTML. These elements include <header>, <nav>, <section>, <article>, <aside>, and <footer>.

6. What are the new form controls introduced in HTML5?

  • HTML5 has introduced several new form controls, including <input type="date">, <input type="email">, <input type="url">, <input type="search">, and <input type="color">.

7. What is the purpose of the audio and video elements in HTML5?

  • HTML5 introduces support for audio and video elements, allowing developers to add multimedia content to their web pages without using plugins like Adobe Flash.

8. How do you create a date picker in HTML5?

  • To create a date picker in HTML5, you can use the <input type="date"> element. Here's an example: <input type="date" name="date">.

9. How do you add video to an HTML5 web page?

  • To add video to an HTML5 web page, you can use the <video> element. Here's an example: <video width="320" height="240" controls><source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video>.

10. How do you add audio to an HTML5 web page?

  • To add audio to an HTML5 web page, you can use the <audio> element. Here's an example: <audio controls><source src="music.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></audio>.

In conclusion, HTML and HTML5 are both markup languages used for creating web pages, but HTML5 has many new features and improvements over HTML. HTML5 introduces new elements, form controls, and multimedia support, making it easier to create modern and interactive web pages. In addition, HTML5’s simpler DOCTYPE declaration and improved error handling make it more user-friendly for developers. By understanding the differences between HTML and HTML5 and mastering their unique features, developers can create more effective and engaging web pages.

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Nur A Alam Khan

Freelancer || Full Stack Developer || WordPress Expert || Content Creator