Picking Your Code Editor
To write HTML code, you can either use an online editor or install an editor on your computer. Editors vary in the number of features, ranging from simple text editors that come pre-installed on your computer to fully-fledged integrated development environments (IDEs) with many programming related features.
Simple Online Editors For Quick Prototyping
If you are not sure yet if you are going to enjoy writing HTML or just want to try it out quickly, you can use a simple online editor. So, the fastest way to get started is to open a simple online editor like JS Bin, JSFiddle, CodePen in a new tab and write your first lines of HTML code.
While these simple editors are easy to use and a good option for prototyping quick experiments you cannot create multiple files in them. So, you are limited to one HTML, CSS and JavaScript file each. By choosing a regular code editor, you are able to create a website with multiple pages and link from one page to another (e.g. Home, Contact, About, Imprint...).
Proper Code Editors (Online Or Local)
On the other hand, there are some more sophisticated editors that are a better fit if you want to work seriously on a web project. So, if are already sure you want to learn HTML then its a good idea to use a proper editor with more advanced features.
Most professional developers are using one of the following editors for most of their programming work:
- Online Editors for programming in a browser
- Local Editors that read and save files on your computer (first need to be installed on your computer)
While it take a few steps to get started and familiar with one of these editors (maybe 20-90 minutes), its probably worth it. While you might not need every features as a beginner it's worth starting and learning to use it, because you can continue using it for years. So, you probably want to use a proper editor at some point anyway. It's just a matter if you want to spend the time now or later in your journey.
As mentioned above, you can immediately start using a simple online editor if you are currently not willing to spend the time to get started with a proper editor.
Overall, it's not that important which editor or IDE you choose. If you want to have a proper setup on your computer, my recommendation is to download Visual Studio Code and happily start building something with it.
If you have been programming for several months (let's say 6 months), you can still try out different editors and compare it to your prior experience. But as a beginner rather stick to one and get comfortable with it. Knowing one tool well is more valuable than knowing multiple ones superficially.
In the end, the editor doesn't influence the quality of work you can produce too much. Kyle Simpson (JavaScript expert and author of the book series "You Don't Know JS Yet") shares this sentiment. An editor is a tool for a programmer like a brush is a tool for an artist. Even with the lousiest brush, an artist can create beautiful work.