HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard language used to create and design web pages. It forms the backbone of web content, defining the structure and elements within a webpage. HTML utilizes tags to mark different elements such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links, facilitating the organization and presentation of information. Web browsers interpret HTML code to render the content visually for users. As a fundamental technology in web development, HTML is often combined with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript to create dynamic and visually appealing websites.