Merkintäformaatteja

Merkintäformaatteja, known in English as markup languages, are systems for annotating a document in a way that is syntactically distinguishable from the text. They are used to add structure, meaning, or formatting information to plain text. These formats allow for the separation of content from its presentation, enabling a document to be displayed or processed in various ways.

Common markup languages include HyperText Markup Language (HTML), which is the standard for creating web pages, and Extensible Markup Language (XML), which is designed for storing and transporting data. XML's strength lies in its ability to define custom tags, making it highly flexible for representing structured data. Another example is Markdown, a lightweight markup language often used for writing documentation, with a simple syntax that is easy to read and write.

The core principle behind markup is the use of tags, which are special keywords or codes enclosed in delimiters, typically angle brackets. These tags indicate how the enclosed text should be interpreted or displayed. For instance, in HTML, a tag like `<p>` marks the beginning of a paragraph, and `</p>` marks its end. Markup languages are essential tools for web development, data management, and content creation, facilitating the organized and structured presentation of information.