Hi All, I'm looking for some recommendations for a good HTML/CSS book. Something that is not too technical and fairly easy to read and follow. I would like to learn more about writing code so I won't have to rely so much on WYSIWYG editors. I can do some very simple html editing (at least enough to format text, paragraphs, links, etc.) and have some luck searching for what I need, but I don't yet have a clear understanding of css and it's uses or how to position an image precisely where I need it without a table, or how to create and position store tags and menu bars for example. I would really like to learn how to create a product template page where I can just add new products images, descriptions, and store tags whenever I have a new product to sell. Your recommendations would be much appreciated.
From about 8 css books I have: CSS:the Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland is the best, followed in quality by Beginning CSS Web Development:From Novice to Professional by Simon Collison
I would check out w3schools like salihpk suggested. I have only had one HTML and one CSS book so far. My HTML book is a little old and I have no clue if it is even on the market anymore, but my css book was Stylin' with CSS. Its in color and its a pretty good read. I think the author could have it a little better, but the overall learning ability from the book is pretty good. It goes over all the basics and he uses a lot of codes in the book with arrows pointing to code selects telling what does this and that. Before you buy anything I would check out free online websites that you can learn from to make sure you wont get bored after awhile and give up. Also, experiment with any new codes you learn. Experiment while your learning the codes. It helped me a lot when I was learning HTML.
Build your own website the right way using HTML & CSS by Iain LLoyd would be my number 1 recomendation. I have about 4 books on it, that one is the best IMO.
nice suggestion. on w3 school you can learn about html, php,asp.net, javascript, mysql,mssql & more programming languages.
I learned html a few years ago using the Simplified series (Creating Web Pages with HTML Simplified) and also had my son use it to learn recently. But for the past couple years I've found myself constantly hopping over to w3schools.com (as mentioned) for quick reference on css. They're 'Try it Yourself' format is unique and REALLY helpful. One more thing I highly recommend once you start getting a feel for things is to install and use the Firefox plugin called Firebug. It's a great learning tool whether you are tweaking your own site or learning how someone else pulled off certain designs. Christy
Sounds like the consensus is w3schools. Although I have always preferred books for learning (maybe I'm just old school), just seems easier for me to have a book in front of me. Having said that, I have looked at w3schools and the lesson interface seems simple and clean enough so I'll give it a go. Thanks much for the recommendations.
CSS - The Definitive Guide HTML / XHTML - The Definitive Guide Both of these books are outstanding. They go into really good detail explaining not only the how, but the why behind things, which in my opinion, is the most important thing when trying to do web design. You need to have a good understanding as to why something works the way it does in order to fully utilize and not just know what something does. Good luck!
I wouldn't recommend W3Schools, unless you want to learn HTML badly. The site hasn't been updated in donkeys years. I too prefer books, and you have already a good recommendation, http://www.sitepoint.com/books/html1/
I like the visual start pro series... always easy to follow, and helped me learn a lot. also the "in 24 hours" series are good too aswell as the "for dummies" books