What is the role of HTML in web documents?

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is essential for structuring content on web pages. It defines the layout and organization of text, images, links, and other elements that appear on a webpage. By utilizing various HTML elements and tags, developers can create a semantic structure that allows browsers to interpret how the content should be displayed and interacted with.

The use of HTML is foundational for web development because it provides the skeleton of a webpage. For instance, using headers, paragraphs, lists, and other tags helps in organizing the information in a way that is user-friendly and accessible. Additionally, HTML is critical for search engine optimization (SEO) because proper structure aids search engines in understanding the content of the web pages.

Understanding HTML's role in structuring content is crucial for anyone looking to engage in web development or design since all web technologies build upon this basic structure.