Markup Languages

Though the Web uses many authoring and markup languages to display content, HTML is the base language of the Web. When combined with other scripts and languages it can be used to produce phenomenally interactive Web sites.

Other mark-up languages you may already have seen include :

SGML - the parent of HTML, responsible for the
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
tag at the start of this HTML document.
XML - eXtensible Markup Language.
XHTML - eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language
VRML - for interactive 3-D display

Dynamic HTML

There are some useful add-ons to HTML, which comprise of scripting and programming languages.

These fall into two main categories :

Client side applications such as JavaScript, Java applets, Shockwave and Flash, which run on your machine and can be used to enhance graphics, audio, add real-time actions or use the browsers button and menu functions (only normally controllable by the user). JavaScript is usually considered to be more of a scripting language than a fully fledged programming language.
Server side applications such as perl (or CGI scripting), ASP (Active Server Pages - Windows NT based), ColdFusion (database) and sometimes Java.

When HTML is added to in this way, it is usually refered to as "dynamic HTML" or "dHTML".

Common uses for various dHTML add-ons :

Client side

JavaScript
.js Alerts, opening custom sized / arranged browser windows, roll-over buttons, browser dependant page layout. JavaScript is parsed on loading into your browser, and can be written into your HTML or as a separate file.

Java applets
.apj A very compact and powerful language, executed at a level half way between that of an application and that of a plug-in, and loaded in separately using the HTML <object> and <embed> tags. Quite labour intensive, custom written mini-applications (applets) which, if used properly can give stunning graphical and audio effects. Current browsers run Java admirably, though Netscape has always had a few problems with it, and can incur security problems. Some good support software is available to make programming a bit more accessable.

Flash
.swf This is the scaled down version of Shockwave, used for both the internet and and for CD ROMs. Created using a Flash Graphical User Interface (GUI) (at v5.0 at time of writing), and displayed using a Flash plug-in available from Macromedia. Creates stunning multimedia effects from astoundingly small files, using sound, images and drawings. Fully interactive web sites can be created using this software. Files are heavily compressed to reduce download times.

Shockwave
.swd This is the file type exported by Macromedia Director. It is usually used for larger multimedia files, and the plug-in is much larger than that of Flash. Director is usually used for creating interactive CD ROMs. Creates fantastic multimedia and the design software is fully customisable. Requires a Shockwave browser plug-in, also available from Macromedia. Generally faster and smoother than its sibling.

Server side

perl
.cgi
.pl HTML Form handling, search engines and gophers, small databases, mailshots, web shops, security. A very robust and powerful language, preferred by those with a programming background, and installed on UNIX or the increasingly popular LINUX platforms.

ASP
.asp All of the perl functions but accessible through windows WYSIWYG, Visual Basic type interface. Used mainly on Windows NT servers.

ColdFusion
.cfm Multi-platform database system. Used on larger databases where security and reliability is paramount.

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JavaScript `.js`	Alerts, opening custom sized / arranged browser windows, roll-over buttons, browser dependant page layout. JavaScript is parsed on loading into your browser, and can be written into your HTML or as a separate file.
Java applets `.apj`	A very compact and powerful language, executed at a level half way between that of an application and that of a plug-in, and loaded in separately using the HTML `<object>` and `<embed>` tags. Quite labour intensive, custom written mini-applications (applets) which, if used properly can give stunning graphical and audio effects. Current browsers run Java admirably, though Netscape has always had a few problems with it, and can incur security problems. Some good support software is available to make programming a bit more accessable.
Flash `.swf`	This is the scaled down version of Shockwave, used for both the internet and and for CD ROMs. Created using a Flash Graphical User Interface (GUI) (at v5.0 at time of writing), and displayed using a Flash plug-in available from Macromedia. Creates stunning multimedia effects from astoundingly small files, using sound, images and drawings. Fully interactive web sites can be created using this software. Files are heavily compressed to reduce download times.
Shockwave `.swd`	This is the file type exported by Macromedia Director. It is usually used for larger multimedia files, and the plug-in is much larger than that of Flash. Director is usually used for creating interactive CD ROMs. Creates fantastic multimedia and the design software is fully customisable. Requires a Shockwave browser plug-in, also available from Macromedia. Generally faster and smoother than its sibling.

perl `.cgi` `.pl`	HTML Form handling, search engines and gophers, small databases, mailshots, web shops, security. A very robust and powerful language, preferred by those with a programming background, and installed on UNIX or the increasingly popular LINUX platforms.
ASP `.asp`	All of the perl functions but accessible through windows WYSIWYG, Visual Basic type interface. Used mainly on Windows NT servers.
ColdFusion `.cfm`	Multi-platform database system. Used on larger databases where security and reliability is paramount.