Creating your own webpage...

[Blind Melon]

Alright, I really have no experience in creating a webpage, but I do know that a lot of webpages can be created using HTML coding, but I really have no clue how to go about doing such a thing... I know there are places out there that let you create your own webpage, but I have a feeling that most professional webpages are created on a server, and then hosted through that? I'm not really sure... like Google, that's got to be on their own servers since they have so many webpages/databasing that goes on.

My questions are... if I wanted to create a website like Wikipedia, where users can add to articles/create their own articles: would HTML be the best way to go; could I make this on my own computer, rather than having to go through a company and paying them?

Like I said, I really am completely lost as to how it all works... I've never touched something like this in college before, other than Java, but we didn't deal with creating webpages. I would just like to know how complicated something like Wikipedia or Google would be. Correct me if I'm wrong on anything.

[PeejAvery]

Wikipedia uses a database (MySQL, SQL, Oracle, etc.) to store the articles. The only way to interface with a database is to use a server-side language (PHP, ASP.NET, Java, etc.). You would also need to learn XHTML in order to output the viewable webpage.

Your first, and almost only necessary, stop should be W3Schools.

[Blind Melon]

Awesome, I'll definitely check that website out. Thanks... but my other question of having to pay for such a thing... could I build my own webpage and not have to pay to host it?

[PeejAvery]

There is going to be some cost involved unless you want a site hosted with ads and without database access.

Look into 1&1. They have very cheap hosting and great quality of service!

[Blind Melon]

Awesome, you've been very helpful. Thank you.