HTML is a markup language used to define the structure and layout of web pages. It was created in 1990 and has been revised over time, with HTML 5.0 being the most recent standard. As a static language, HTML provides the foundation for web pages but cannot dynamically change elements on its own. Other scripting languages like JavaScript and PHP are needed to make websites dynamic and responsive. HTML uses tags placed within angle brackets to delineate elements like paragraphs, headings, and links. Tags come in opening and closing pairs to encapsulate content for the browser to interpret and display correctly.