Introduction
Behind the development of modern technology, there are simple things such as software which also has to be developed. HTML states for HyperText Markup Language and is mainly used for creating and designing electronic pages, which are, in fact, documents. Some people claim that HTML is not a programming language. At the same time, there is an opinion that HTML is suitable for programming and is not worse than any other language. Due to the controversy of points of view on this issue, both opinions are discussed below.
Why HTML cannot be Called a Programming Language?
Concerning the point of view that HTML is not a programming language, many amateurs express their accordance with this opinion on the Internet. However, speaking of experts claim that HTML does not comply with specific criteria that evaluate the software. For example, Newmarch (2017) states that HTML is a simple language and can “be edited by hand,” leading to the incorrectness of many documents (p. 189). Hence, many pages do not “follow the syntax of the language,” creating a wide variety of “illegal documents” (Newmarch, 2017, p. 189). Such inaccuracy with the rules contradicts the common perception of using a programming language.
The second argument is related to the capacity of HTML as an instrument of programming. There is an issue that distinguishes HTML from other programming languages and complexifies its use. Newmarch (2017) reckons that the main feature of programming languages is that they can process data and make decisions based on it. HTML is not suitable for operations connected with making decisions – it cannot provide an opportunity for alphabetical sorting of the text or similar ones.
The final and the most potent argument considers the potential of HTML. Reprintsev (2018) reckons that it is essential for a programming language to be Turing complete. This means that “your model of computations can execute any algorithm no matter how complex it is… and how much storage or time would be needed to evaluate it” (Reprintsev, 2018, p. 235). Therefore, being Turing complete means being reliable and relevant for a programming language. HTML is not Turing complete, so it cannot be called fully effective.
Why HTML can be Called a Programming Language?
On the other hand, there are people whose opinion is for HTML to be considered a programming language. Firstly, they claim that HTML has the structural features of a language, such as a syntax and semantics. Leinonen et al. state that “when learning to program, students learn the syntax of a programming language, the semantics underlying the syntax, and practice” (2019, p. 1). Thus, these essential parts are fundamental for software, and any language that has them can be called a programming language.
Secondly, HTML can be concerned as a programming language based on a definition of a programming language. Ernst (2017) claims that a programming language or software is “a sequence of instructions that perform some task” (p. 1). This definition is commonly assumed to be confirmed by the programming community Ernst reckons (2017). Therefore, HTML suits the requirements and can easily be perceived as software because it provides declarative instructions to a computer.
Thirdly, HTML can be referred to as a programming language because it is a markup language, which is reflected in its name. Being a markup language means providing opportunities related to designing and creating documents (or web pages), which is a significant part of a whole programming process (Turner, 2018). Consequently, HTML can be considered a programming language because it contributes to the programming process by performing essential tasks.
Conclusion
Overall, the opinions on the compliance of HTML to programming languages vary drastically. Although both sides provide relevant arguments supporting their points of view, there does not seem to be a logical solution to this issue. However, HTML is widely used; its functionality suits the particular needs of the programmers, and websites created with the help of HTML account for the majority of pages on the Internet. Hence, its practical use is more substantial and compelling than theoretical classification.
References
Ernst, M. D. (2017). Natural language is a programming language: Applying natural language processing to software development. Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, 4, 1–14. Web.
Newmarch, J. (2017). Network programming with Go. Apress Media. Web.
Reprintsev, A. (2018). Oracle SQL revealed. Apress Media. Web.
Turner, R. (2018). The design of programming languages. Computational Artifacts, 161–167. Web.