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Web Page File Formats

Last Updated : 01 Dec, 2023
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One special type of file format is meant only for storage and representation of the contents within the World Wide Web, known as web page file format. These are the particular formats in which information is put together, laid out, and navigated through websites. Creating or maintaining a website requires individuals such as web developers and designers to have basic knowledge of various web page file types.

Web Page File Formats Overview

The structure and organization of web content are dependent upon various file formats employed in web page files. Different functionalities, as well as different underlying theories, lead to the formation of such groups. Here are some of the key web page file formats:

  • HTML (.html): The most common markup language used for web page creation is HTML (HyperText Markup Language)./ A system of tags describes the structure and content of a web page. The backbone for websites is built using HTML files.
  • HTML (.htm): The Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document format has a less common file extension; it is identical to.html files.
  • CSS (.css): CSS is a specification that controls the way HTML pages are presented and laid out. As for the style sheet, it is composed of CSS files that define the styles, fonts, colors, etc. that constitute the page’s visual look. The design is improved by working together with the HTML.
  • PHP (.php): Server-side scripting language called PHP. PHP coding executes on the web server, giving dynamic content to the site. They contribute to shaping engaging and database-driven websites.
  • .XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language): An XML-based version of HTML, promoting document structure and consistency.
  • .ASPX (Active Server Pages Extended): An extension of ASP that supports .NET framework, enabling powerful web applications.
  • .RSS (Really Simple Syndication): A web feed format used to publish frequently updated content, such as news headlines or blog posts.
  • ASP (.asp): One of these includes Active Server Pages [ASP] which is a server side script written by Microsoft. These are not meant for users, they comprise of server side code that gets delivered to a browser after processing by the ABS.:%.* These are among some of the commonly utilized in Windows based web hosting setups.
  • .XPS (.xps): As for XPS, this is an XML-based file format which aims at preserving and sharing layouts of documents. Despite being less prevalent than other web page formats, XPS can still be used for the production of fixed-layout documents that could be appropriate in specific publishing environments.

How to run

If you want to see­ .htm and .html files, you require a we­b browser like Google Chrome­, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. Just double-click the­ file. It displays in your default web browse­r as a webpage.

Step 1: To oepn .htm and .html file make an inde­x.html or index.htm file first. Then inscribe­ some code like

HTML




<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Geeksforgeeks</title>
    <style>
        body {
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            background-color: #f0f0f0;
            margin: 0;
            padding: 0;
        }
  
        h2 {
            color: green;
            padding: 10px;
            text-align: center;
        }
  
        div {
            max-width: 500px;
            box-shadow: 0px 0px 10px 0px grey;
            padding: 30px;
            border-radius: 10px;
            margin: 5rem;
        }
  
        p {
            margin: 20px;
            font-size: 18px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
  
<body>
    <div>
        <h2>Welcome To Geeksforgeeks!!</h2>
        <p>A Computer Science portal for geeks. It contains well written, well thought and well explained computer
            science and programming articles.</p>
    </div>
  
</body>
  
</html>


Step 2: Then double click the index.htm or index.html file and your preferred web browser will open and present the content of that page correctly. after that output will look like this.

CSS: HTML documents reference CSS files, which contain styles that are applied. These images are not exclusive programs, but part of HTML visualization.

PHP and ASP: The server side scirpting languages include asp and php, which necessitate an apache enabled web server. Place the files into the server for them to be executed with their relevant URL addresses.

Uses of Web Page File Formats

  • There are various types of webpage file formats used in the area of both web development, as well as online content development. Some of the primary uses include:
  • Content Structuring: .html and .xhtml facilitate structuring of content on web pages.
  • Styling: In addition, .CSS makes it possible to make web pages visually attractive while maintaining consistency in their style.
  • Dynamic Content: Dynamic web pages are built with the use of PHP and ASP extensions.
  • Syndication: RSS provides transmission of new content which helps keep subscribers informed on the latest events.

Benefits of Web Page File Formats:

Web page file formats offer several advantages, including:

  • Standardization: These include common formats such as .HTML,. CSS and .PHP among others that are made standard for them to be compatible on various platforms.
  • Interactivity: Interactive and customized formats such as .PHP and .ASP.
  • Efficient Styling: .css distinguishes content from presentation allowing updation of page’s visual aspects and is better and quicker in case of any changes.
  • Information Syndication: RSS facilitates effective dissemination of content refreshments between originators and clients.

Limitations of Web Page File Formats:

Despite their benefits, web page file formats have some limitations, such as:

  • Text Editors: Developers write .html, .css and .php files using programs like “Notepad++” or “Visual Studio Code”.
  • Web Browsers: The webpages are interpreted and rendered using formatting styles such as .HTML and .CSS in popular web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
  • Content Management Systems (CMS): Various forms of webpage files are used on site content management platforms such as WordPress and Joomla.
  • Web Development Frameworks: Frameworks such as Laravel (for .PHPA) and Bootstrap (for . CSS) make it easy to utilize certain file types in web developments.
  • News Aggregators: Many web applications and websites now offer RSS feeds, which enable them to give people fresh news instantly.

Applications that Use Web Page File Formats

Web page format files are utilized by various applications to create, edit, or manage content online. Some notable examples include:

  • Text Editors: For writing and editing of HTML, CSS, PHP, and ASP files, the common tools include Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, and Sublime Text.
  • Web Browsers: In particular, different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge interpret and render HTML, CSS and other web page languages.
  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): PhpStorm, Visual Studio and even Dreamweaver come with extensive IDEs that enable writing of web applications in different file formats.

Malware Concerns Associated

With appropriate security systems in place, web page file formats can easily be attacked by malware. management system. Common vulnerabilities include:

  • Code Injection: If input validation and sanitization is poor, malicious code can be planted in a PHP file.
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Unsanctioned processing of user inputs in Html and Javascript can result into the vulnerability towards the Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks which can leak a user’s personal information.

Conclusion

It is important that any person concerned with designing websites or creating content on the web understands file formats of web pages. Each of these formats defines the structure through HTML, styles the page using CSS, and develops dynamics based on PHP and ASP. However, one must remain vigilant about potential security issues and employ proper measures to protect against malware attacks. The Internet is based on web page file formats which give power to designers to build attractive and active websites.



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