# Week 1 in Bootcamp: Revisiting HTML Fundamentals

Week one of bootcamp is officially in the books! While HTML isn't entirely new territory for me as a self-taught developer, experiencing it in a structured bootcamp setting has been eye-opening. There's something different about learning alongside peers and having instructors guide you through concepts you thought you already knew.

In my last post, I shared why I decided to join this bootcamp despite teaching myself to code. Now, let me walk you through what we've been building and the fresh perspectives I've gained in our first week.

## What We Covered

Our first week focused on HTML5 fundamentals, including:

* HTML document structure and boilerplate
    
* Semantic HTML elements (header, main, section, footer)
    
* Working with forms and input types
    
* Creating accessible tables
    
* Image optimization with alt text
    
* Best practices for accessibility
    

Even though I'd worked with HTML before, revisiting these topics in a structured way helped me identify gaps in my knowledge and solidify best practices I'd been fuzzy on.

## The Project: Personal Bio Page

Our hands-on project was building a personal bio page using pure HTML5—no CSS, no JavaScript, just semantic markup.

**🔗** [**View Live Project**](https://chinaydu01.github.io/html-bootcamp-project/) **|** [**GitHub Repository**](https://github.com/chinaydu01/html-bootcamp-project)

The page includes:

* Personal profile section with image
    
* About me biography
    
* Hobbies and interests lists
    
* Skills showcase (ordered list)
    
* Weekly schedule table
    
* Contact form with various input types
    

Check out the live demo and feel free to explore the code on GitHub to see how everything comes together!

## Key Concepts I Reinforced

### Semantic HTML Structure

One thing the bootcamp emphasized is using semantic HTML for better accessibility and SEO. Instead of divs everywhere, we structured the page meaningfully using elements like `<header>`, `<main>`, `<section>`, and `<footer>`. This structure tells browsers and screen readers exactly what each part of the page represents—making it more accessible for everyone.

### Building Accessible Forms

Forms were a big focus this week. The key learning here: every input needs a properly associated label for accessibility. Using the `for` attribute on labels that connects to the input's `id` helps screen readers and improves usability for all users. We also learned about fieldsets and legends to group related form elements logically.

### Tables for Structured Data

We used tables to display a weekly schedule, and I learned the importance of using tables only for tabular data, not layout. Using proper table elements like `<thead>`, `<tbody>`, `<th>`, and `<td>` adds semantic meaning and significantly improves accessibility.

### Images and Alt Text

Every image needs descriptive alt text—not just for accessibility but also for SEO and scenarios where images fail to load. This was something I knew but didn't always practice consistently.

## Self-Taught vs. Bootcamp: My Observations

Learning HTML in a bootcamp versus on my own has revealed some interesting differences:

**Structure matters**: Having a curriculum removes the "what should I learn next?" paralysis I often faced when self-teaching.

**Filling knowledge gaps**: I realized I'd been skipping over important concepts like proper form accessibility and semantic HTML. Self-teaching sometimes means you learn what you need in the moment, not necessarily what you *should* know.

**Community learning**: Seeing how my peers approach problems differently has been invaluable. There's always more than one way to solve something, and bootcamp discussions expose you to different thinking patterns.

**Accountability**: Having deadlines and projects due keeps me consistent. When self-teaching, it's easy to say "I'll do it tomorrow."

## What's Next

Before we dive into CSS, we'll be spending more time with HTML. Next week, we're building a complete multi-page website using just HTML—no styling yet. This will help solidify our understanding of HTML structure, navigation between pages, and how to organize a larger project.

I'm excited to work on something more complex and see how all the pieces fit together. Once we've mastered HTML structure with a multi-page site, then we'll move into CSS to bring everything to life with styling and responsive design.

Stay tuned for the next update!

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**Following along on my bootcamp journey?** Drop a comment below with your own experiences—whether you're self-taught, in a bootcamp, or considering one. Let's learn together!

**Project Repository:** [GitHub](https://github.com/chinaydu01/html-bootcamp-project)  
**Live Demo:** [View Project](https://chinaydu01.github.io/html-bootcamp-project/)