HTMLfirst
HTMLfirst is a web development approach that prioritizes semantic HTML as the foundation of a web page, with styling and interactivity layered on top through progressive enhancement. The central premise is that a page should be usable and understandable in its simplest form by default, even with limited client capabilities or for assistive technologies. In practice, HTMLfirst emphasizes proper document structure, meaningful elements (such as header, nav, main, article, section, aside, footer), accessible alt attributes, and descriptive heading hierarchies, ensuring content is understandable without relying on CSS or JavaScript. JavaScript and CSS are applied in ways that enhance or enrich the experience but do not break core functionality if they are unavailable or disabled.
History and usage: The concept aligns with the broader philosophy of progressive enhancement and semantic HTML,
Implementation: Developers typically start with a complete HTML prototype that conveys all content and structure, then
See also: Progressive enhancement, Semantic HTML, Accessibility, SEO, Responsive web design.