⚡️HTML is not a programming language 
Tags: html, programming, beginners, webdev
Published: 2021-11-24 09:35:26

Btw, CSS also isn't a programming language. I know what you think: **I'm gonna put some roast on this iffy post from this arrogant guy who is trying to talk down the language**.

First and foremost: If you only code in HTML you are a programmer, no discussion needed ♥️. The definition of a language does not change your worthiness or your job title.

Let me elaborate why writing this blogpost is important and essential and why it is not about "being right". My assumption is that the discussion is purely based on insecurities and fear.

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### Why do you even care? 

People on twitter seem to fight for the right that HTML is a programming language. The essential question is why do people argue about it? I don't get it. The definition of what HTML is does not change anything about the fact that HTML is the crucial language to create websites and web apps - fact.

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### People confuse programming language and being a programmer

Maybe that is one of the fears that people have: If neither HTML nor CSS is a programming language then am I even a programmer by just using HTML/CSS? **Sure thing, you are!** Even though the word has the same origin being a programmer and programming language are still different things.

Let's take the Wikipedia Definition:
> A computer programmer, sometimes called a software developer, a programmer or more recently a coder (especially in more informal contexts), is a person who creates computer software.

So even if you do not code at all e.g. by designing systems architecture you are part of the programmers world.

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### Why it is important to acknowledge that HTML is not a programming language?

In very simple words: Because if we go by the majority of scientifical definitions then it is often described as a Markup Language (HTML= Hypertext Markup Language) as opposed to programming language. We are living in a world that often confuses facts with opinions and hence create problematic discussions that wouldn't even be worth the energy simply because it does not change a single thing about the outcome.

Let's face Wikipedia again:

> Markup languages like XML, HTML, or troff, which define structured data, are not usually considered programming languages.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language

There is a "trivial" and a not-so-trivial explanation. The not-so-trivial one is about language possibilities, turing completeness and so on and so forth which I do not want to elaborate in detail here because.
A more trivial approach is: If you can build a calculator based on users input with it then it most likely can be considered a programming language. Bash can do that, JS can do that, HTML cannot. You can define input fields in HTML but HTML cannot process them and sum/multiply. CSS can partially calculate but then again it is extremely constrained to "hardcoded" values and not arbitrary input.

And by the way: SQL can also only calculate things to a constrained extent. You cannot write a full program in SQL. SQL is a declarative language. But back to the actual point: Why would you care to make it a "programming language"? You are a programmer nevertheless.

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## Conclusion:

I am not trying to be "right". That is not the whole point of this post. Generically spoken I would really love to see a world where we come together and share what's available in science rather than creating an "opinion" about things that science has a clearer view on. That can be troublesome in any topic e.g. vaccination.

A good start here is to ask questions: "Can you provide me some more information why HTML wouldn't be considered a programming language?" or vice versa.

That is the world that I am looking for. A proper, scientifically based discussion (how they are very often found in good responses on StackOverflow).

I just do not get the point why a simple word triggers so many people. 

Peace & Love
David