The main section of a Web document is the body. Everything in the body is located between the begin and end body tags. Dozens of HTML tags can be used in the body. These tags are defined throughout this chapter and in other chapters that explore HTML. As you design your document, focus on the structure of the elements you plan to include in the body section.
Well-designed documents look effortless and achieve their impact from simplicity of design. They are organized in a way that is coherent and flowing. Yet designs that seem simple and natural to the reader are often the result of intense efforts to make them seem this way. You can use many techniques to structure the document in powerful yet uncomplicated ways.
Sometimes it is not what you have on the page that helps convey your message, but what you do not have on the page. Empty space on the page makes material easier to read and helps focus the reader's attention on your ideas. Interestingly enough, it is the separation of the material that creates the emphasis and draws the reader's attention. Two key components of the page that can help you create white space are paragraphs and headings.
Browsers typically display an empty space between paragraphs, so a page with many paragraphs will have more white space. You should use short paragraphs the most and long paragraphs the least. A short paragraph has fewer than six lines. A long paragraph has 10 or more lines. Varying the length of paragraphs is a key technique to keep the reader's attention. If you use the same paragraph length repeatedly, even the most lively material seems monotonous.
Browsers also display an empty space between headings. Using headings, you can divide the document into sections or topics. A document broken into topics looks more manageable and interesting. Headings help the reader identify the main points of the document at a glance. They also help the reader quickly find topics of interest.