What code should I use

I want to design a normal website i.e. no fancy scripts, just articles and a neat design. I want to be able to edit the header or footer and the changes to be made to every page. This is not possible with HTML (correct me if I am wrong) so I will use PHP. Am I heading in the right direction? and are there any disadvantages of using PHP over HTML?

 

Yes, I'd say you got the right direction... I don't really know about any disadvantages of PHP
If you want to study PHP, start with Smarty templates too... It's pretty easy.

 

You can use frames in HTML.

<frameset cols="25%,75%">
<frame src="index.html">
<frame src="page2.html">
</frameset>

Code (markup):

However includes in php work just as well if not better.

 

its possible in HTML as well if you have server side includes working on your server... you would just put something like this in your HTML file

<!--#include file="includedfile.html"-->

PHP obviously does this as well, and the advantage of PHP over HTML is that if you do decide to use any scripts or need some kind of programming on a page its much easier to do so... as any site grows im sure you'll find some need to do some kind of programming

 

Use the combination > HTML+PHP.

 

you could use a little of both if you want to , such as creating PHP includes for the header and footer sections. If you want to use PHP in with the .html extension you can use a .htaccess file with a php handler stored in it. The handler can vary with different servers, so you just have to do some test it with different ones and see which one works for you if you choose to go that route.

 

My own advice for a clean and attractive design is.

xHtml + CSS

 

As suggested, learn the combo of PHP + HTML. Or DHTML(Dynamic HTML which involves javascript and some PHP. It is just a short name for the use of all three... at least that is what my teacher said.)