The ultimate HTML5 resource guide

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June 03, 2011

Despite the fact that the HTML5 specification won't officially be finished until 2022, (though it will be mostly finalized by 2014), a lot of designers are already diving into the parts of HTML5 that currently have support in modern browsers.

HTML5 opens up some whole new avenues for web design and web application development, things that were previously only possible with either JavaScript or Flash.

Here we've rounded up 175 refsources for learning HTML5. Included below are tutorials, frameworks, examples, and a lot more.

Feel free to share more high-quality resources in the comments!

Basic tutorials

HTML5 Tutorial

A very basic tutorial from W3sbchools.com.

HTML5 for Beginners. Use it now, it's easy!
An introductory guide from What!? We Like To Talk About.

28 HTML5 Features, Tips, and Techniques You Must Know

A collection of very useful HTML5 tips from Nettuts+.

Introduction to HTML5

A 40-minute video tutorial from Google employee Brad Neuberg.

Quick Tip: HTML5 Features You Should be Using Right Now

A screencast from Nettuts+.

Learning to Love HTML5

A great overview of the advantages of HTML5, as well as some very helpful tips.

Preparing for HTML5 with Semantic Class Names

An article from Jon Tan on the new semantic classes in HTML5.

HTML5: The Basics (1 of 4)

An introduction to HTML5, with information about APIs, new elements, and more.

Everything you need to know about HTML5

An introduction from TechRadar UK.

HTML5 Tutorial

A very basic tutorial site.

Structural Tags in HTML5

An introduction to the structural tags that will replace many divs.

HTML5 Rocks My Socks Off

A very useful beginner's guide to HTML5

HTML5, Again

A simple guide to front-end design with HTML5.

HTML5 Presentation

A huge slideshow about HTML5, built in HTML5.

The Header Element

An introduction to the header element from HTML5 Doctor.

HTML5 and The Future of the Web

From July 2009, this article covers the basics of HTML5.

CSS Code Structure for HTML5: Some Useful Guidelines

Some useful guidelines from Woork.

HTML5 Unleashed: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

An overview that includes info on semantic markup, forms, and more.

Building sites in HTML5

HTML5 Tutorial - Getting Started

A basic HTML5 tutorial that includes a basic template file.

Code a Vibrant Professional Web Design with HTML5/CSS3

Code a Backwards Compatible, One Page Portfolio with HTML5 and CSS3

Tutorial: Case Study with HTML5 & CSS3

Touch the Future: Create An Elegant Website With HTML5 and CSS3

Coding a CSS3 & HTML5 One-Page Website Template

Coding A HTML Layout From Scratch

HTML5 and CSS3: The Techniques You'll Soon Be Using

Design & Code a Cool iPhone App Website in HTML5

Simple Website Layout Tutorial Using HTML5 and CSS3

Using HTML5 to Transform WordPress' TwentyTen Theme

A tutorial to take advantage of more HTML5 elements than the default TwentyTen theme.

HTML5 and CSS3 in Dreamweaver CS5 — Part 1: Building the web page

The first in a multi-part series on coding in HTML5 and CSS3 in Dreamweaver, from Adobe.

Create Modern Web Sites Using HTML5 and CSS3

An intermediate tutorial from IMB's developerWorks.

Building Web Pages with HTML5

From Wired's Webmonkey

Designing a Blog With HTML5

Canvas tutorials

An HTML5 Slideshow w/ Canvas & jQuery

Bouncing a Ball Around with HTML5 and JavaScript

How to Draw with HTML5 Canvas

A comprehensive introduction to drawing with Canvas, from Think Vitamin.

HTML5 Canvas - The Basics

An in-depth introduction to Canvas from Dev.Opera.

Thinking About HTML5 Canvas Accessibility

An overview of considerations for making Canvas accessible.

HTML5 Canvas Element Guide

A comprehensive guide from Six Revisions.

Canvas Tutorial

A canvas tutorial from Mozilla Developer Network that includes drawing shapes, using images, and much more. Suitable for canvas beginners.

Local storage tutorials

Building Persistent Sticky Notes with Local Storage

A practical local storage tutorial.

View Source Tutorial: Sticky Notes With HTML5 and CSS3

The sticky notes in this tutorial have a cool animation effect when they're closed.

Browser Storage for HTML5 Apps

Another tutorial for using local storage in HTML5 apps.

HTML5 localStorage - Part One

The first in a four-part tutorial.

Quick Tip: Learning About HTML5 Local Storage

A video tutorial from Nettuts+.

webOS HTML5 Database Storage Tutorial

A tutorial for using HTML5's local storage functionality with Palm's webOS.

Form tutorials

Have a Field Day with HTML5 Forms

How to Build Cross-Browser HTML5 Forms

Designing Search Boxes with HTML5 and CSS3

Rethinking Forms in HTML5

HTML5 Forms are Coming

Some brief information about what HTML5 will mean for form design.

Video and multimedia tutorials

Building a Custom HTML5 Video Player with CSS3 and jQuery

Tutorial: How to Build an HTML5 Video Player

Blowing up HTML Video and Mapping it Into 3D Space

Tutorial: Serving HTML5 Video Cross Browser (including iPad)

A comprehensive tutorial on HTML5 video.

The Video Element

An introduction to using the video element from HTML5 Doctor.

App tutorials

How to Make an HTML5 iPhone App

This tutorial teaches you how to create an offline HTML5 app for an iPhone.

HTML5 Apps: Positioning with Geolocation

An introduction to the geolocation APIs in HTML5.

Creating Mobile Web Applications with HTML5, Part 1

From IBM's developerWorks, the first in a five-part series from 2010.

Create Offline Web Applications on Mobile Devices with HTML5

Another guide from IBM's developerWorks.

HTML5 Apps: What, Why, and How

An overview from Nettuts+, with practical ideas.

More tutorials

How to Create a Cute Popup Bar With HTML5, CSS3, and jQuery

A practical tutorial from SpyreStudios.

How to Make All Browsers Render HTML5 Mark-Up Correctly — Even IE6

From Nettuts+.

HTML5 and CSS3 Without Guilt

Tools and techniques to make HTML5 and CSS3 more cross-browser compatible.

Implementing HTML5 Drag and Drop

A Nettuts+ Premium tutorial.

My Top 5 HTML Coding Preferences

With reasoning behind the preferences, and some great how-to info.

HTML5 Microdata: Welcome to the Machine

An overview of the microdata specification.

Combining Modern CSS3 and HTML5 Techniques

A Nettuts+ Premium tutorial.

HTML5: nav ambiguity resolved

Some clarification on the appropriateness of using the nav element from Jeffrey Zeldman.

HTML5 cheat sheets and quick references

HTML5 & CSS3 Support

A very handy chart that includes browser compatibility for both HTML5 and CSS3.

HTML5 Readiness

An interactive infographic that gives compatibility of different HTML5 elements for each major browser.

HTML5 Pocket Book

A foldable pocket reference guide.

HTML5 Canvas Cheat Sheet

HTML5 Visual Cheat Sheet

HTML 5 Cheat Sheet (PDF)

HTML5 Tag Reference

A chart from the W3C Schools.

HTML5 Glossary

From HTML5 Doctor.

HTML 5 Reference

The official W3C reference.

HTML5 differences from HTML4

From the W3C.

A Selection of Supported Features in HTML5

A chart covering which browsers cover which features.

When Can I Use...

Check compatibility of different HTML5 elements in a variety of browsers.

Comparison of Layout Engines (HTML5)

A comparison of support for HTML5 vs HTML4 for a number of browser layout engines, from Wikipedia.

HTML5 ID/Class Name Cheatsheet

A guide to HTML5 structural elements.

HTML5 Test

Tests your current browser for HTML5 support, and shows the scores of other browsers.

HTML5 Tracker

A chart covering revisions to the standard.

HTML5 Security Cheatsheet

A handy site that shows what your browser is doing behind the scenes with certain HTML5 elements.

Sites dedicated to HTML5

W3C HTML5 Logo

Site includes the official HTML5 logo, as well as a gallery and merchandise links.

HTML5 Tutorial

HTML5 Tutorial has a wide variety of HTML5 tutorials and news.

Free HTML5 Templates

A collection of basic, free HTML5 templates.

HTML5 Rocks

Includes tutorials, resources, and a playground for experimenting with HTML5.

HTML5 Doctor

Includes a Q&A, articles, and more.

HTML Canvas Tutorials

A site filled with Canvas tutorials and a showcase.

The WHATWG Blog

The blog of the group working on the HTML5 standard.

HTML5Trends.com

An HTML5 news and tutorial site.

Mobile HTML5

A site dedicated to teaching the development of HTML5 mobile web apps.

Frameworks

HTML5 Boilerplate

A solid HTML5 default framework.

Less Framework 4

The Less Framework 4 is a CSS3 and HTML5 framework with options for mobile, tablet, and desktop grids.

52 Framework

A framework that combines HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

SproutCore

An HTML5 application framework.

Roots WordPress Theme

An HTML5 and CSS3 WordPress starter theme.

LimeJS

An HTML5 game framework.

Baseline

A CSS grid that includes styles for some HTML5 elements.

Baker Ebook Framework

An ebook framework for the iPad built on HTML5.

Popcorn.js

An HTML5 JavaScript library for video.

DHTMLX Touch

An HTML5-based JavaScript library for mobile web apps.

HTML5 Multimedia Framework for WordPress

An HTML5 multimedia framework in a WordPress plugin.

H5 WordPress Theme

An HTML5 starter theme for WordPress.

SwitchToHTML5

An HTML5 framework generator.

Jo

A mobile HTML5 application framework.

The Official Guide to HTML5 Boilerplate

A screencast from Nettuts+

Showcases

HTML5 Mania

HTML5 web design gallery.

HTML5 Showcase

A gallery of exceptional HTML5 sites from around the world.

HTML5 Websites

Another gallery of HTML5 site designs.

HTML5 Elite

Another showcase of great HTML5 sites.

HTML5 Based

HTML5 web design showcase.

HTML5 Showcase: 48 Potential Flash-Killing Demos

From HongKiat.

HTML5 Gallery

A collection of sites built on HTML5.

Canvas Demos

A showcase of applications, games, tools and tutorials for HTML5 Canvas.

12 Beautiful HTML5 Web Design Showcases

A showcase of 12 HTML5 websites.

Sneaking Into the Future: 25 Ultra Modern Websites Using HTML5

A showcase of 25 HTML5-based designs.

30 Magnificent Sites Using HTML5 in Their Core Layout

Another showcase of HTML5-based sites.

Demos and examples

HTML5 Demos and Examples

A collection of examples of what you can do with HTML5, with a handy chart for browser compatibility.

HTML5 Canvas and Audio Experiment

A very cool HTML5 Canvas animation.

HTML5 and CSS3 Experiments

A series of element and layout experiments and demos.

SublimeVideo

An HTML5 video player.

Projekktor

A free HTML5 video player.

10 HTML5 Demos to Make You Forget About Flash

12 Incredible HTML5 Experiments

Video for Everybody!

Another HTML5 video player.

HTML5 Media

Makes video and audio tags work in all major browsers.

Modernizr

A JavaScript library that makes HTML5 and CSS3 elements compatible with older browsers.

Books

HTML5 for Web Designers

By Jeremy Keith, published by A Book Apart.

HTML5: Designing Rich Internet Applications

By Matthew David.

HTML5 & CSS 3 for the Real World

By Alex Goldstein, Louis Lazaris, and Estelle Weyl

The Essential Guide to HTML5: Using Games to Learn HTML5 and JavaScript

By Jeanine Meyer.

HTML5 & CSS3: Develop with Tomorrow's Standards Today

By Brian P. Hogan.

HTML5 Canvas: Native Interactivity and Animation for the Web

By Steve Fulton and Jeff Fulton, published by O'Reilly.

Pro HTML5 and CSS3 Design Patterns

By Michael Bowers. Coming out in September 2011, but available as part of Apress's Alpha Program.

Pro HTML5 Programming: Powerful APIs for Richer Internet Application Development

By Peter Lubbers, Brian Albers, and Frank Salim.

HTML5 Solutions: Essential Techniques for HTML5 Developers

By Marco Casario, Peter Elst, Charles Brown, Nathalie Wormser, and Cyril Hanquez.

Foundation HTML5 Canvas: For Games and Entertainment

By Rob Hawkes.

Foundation HTML5 Animation with JavaScript

By Keith Peters and Billy Lamberta.

The Definitive Guide to HTML5 Video

By Silvia Pfeiffer.

HTML5 24-Hour Trainer

By Joseph W. Lowery and Mark Fletcher.

Dive Into HTML5

A complete ebook introduction to HTML5, from Mark Pilgrim.

Introducing HTML5

By Bruce Lawson and Remy Sharp.

Smashing HTML5

By Bill Sanders.

More resources and articles

How HTML5 Web Sockets Interact With Proxy Servers

A Preview of HTML5

From A List Apart, published in December 2007.

Yes, You Can Use HTML5 Today!

A Sitepoint article from mid-2009.

The Power of HTML5 and CSS3

An in-depth introductory article from Perishable Press, published in mid-2009.

Semantics in HTML5

A discussion of the semantic elements of HTML5, from A List Apart, published in 2009.

Kaltura HTML5 Media Library

A JavaScript Library that lets you use HTML5 video and audio tags in a variety of browsers.

More on Developing Naming Conventions, Microformats, and HTML5

From For A Beautiful Web.

The Rise of HTML5

From Adactio.

Steve Smith on HTML5 and CSS3

Commentary about what HTML5 and CSS3 mean for web design, from Think Vitamin.

HTML5 & CSS3: Take Your Design to Another Level

From Web Design Ledger.

HTML5: The Facts And The Myths

A rundown of many of the myths and misconceptions about HTML5, from Smashing Magazine.

HTML5 and You

A session from Nettuts+.

The State of HTML5 Apps

A great commentary on building apps with HTML5.

More HTML5 roundups

The Ultimate HTML5 Toolbox: 60+ Articles, Tutorials, Resources, and Inspiring Showcases

From Creative Fan.

Learn HTML5: 10 Must Read Lessons

From Webhosting Secrets Revealed

The Future of HTML5

From Think Vitamin.

Ultimate Collection of HTML5 and CSS3 Resources

From Smashing Share.

15 Useful CSS3 and HTML5 Templates and Frameworks

From Speckyboy Design Magazine.

23 Essential HTML5 Resources

From Think Vitamin/

70 Must-Have CSS3 and HTML5 Tutorials and Resources

From Webappers.

A Collection of HTML5 Resources and Tutorials

From Speckyboy Design Magazine.

25 Essential HTML5 Tutorials and Techniques

From Template Monster.

HTML5 Tutorials and Techniques That Will Keep You Busy

From Noupe.

15 Useful HTML5 Tutorials and Cheat Sheets

From Web Design Ledger.

The Only HTML5 Resources You Need for Getting Up to Speed

From Six Revisions.

22 Excellent HTML5 Tutorials

From BlogFreakz

40 Must See HTML5 Tutorials, Techniques and Examples for Web Develoeprs

From Stylish Web Designer.

30+ Very Useful HTML5 Examples, Tutorials and Techniques

From Tripwire Magazine.

Written exclusively for WDD by Cameron Chapman.

Have a favorite resource we didn't cover? Let us know in the comments!

WDD Staff

WDD staff are proud to be able to bring you this daily blog about web design and development. If there's something you think we should be talking about let us know @DesignerDepot.

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