HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard language used to create and design documents on the World Wide Web. It structures web content using elements and tags, allowing developers to define headings, paragraphs, links, images, and other multimedia elements. As a foundational technology of the web, HTML works alongside CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript to create interactive and visually appealing websites. Understanding HTML is essential for anyone looking to enter the field of web development, as it serves as the backbone for all web pages.