HTML5, the fifth iteration of the Hypertext Markup Language, has revolutionized the way web developers create and structure content on the internet. Introduced in 2008 and finalized as a W3C Recommendation in 2014, HTML5 brought with it a plethora of new elements and attributes designed to enhance the functionality and semantics of web pages. Unlike its predecessors, HTML5 emphasizes not only the presentation of content but also its meaning, allowing developers to create more meaningful and accessible web applications.
This shift towards semantic markup has made it easier for search engines to index content and for assistive technologies to interpret it, thereby improving the overall accessibility of web applications. The introduction of new elements such as `