On the World Wide Web, which software programs are designed to read and interpret HTML code and display web pages to users?

Introduction / Context:
The World Wide Web relies on several technologies working together to display information to users. HTML is the standard markup language used to structure content on web pages. However, HTML code by itself is not directly visible to users; it must be processed and rendered by appropriate software. This question checks whether learners can identify which type of software is specifically designed to read and interpret HTML and then display the resulting web page.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to HTML, the language used for web pages.
• We are asked which software is designed to read and interpret HTML.
• The options include Browser, JavaScript, SQL, String, and a general distractor.
• We assume basic familiarity with visiting websites and using common web tools.

Concept / Approach:
When a user types a web address or clicks a link, a program called a web browser retrieves HTML and related resources from a web server. The browser then parses the HTML, applies styles from CSS, executes JavaScript, and finally displays the result as a formatted web page. JavaScript is a scripting language that runs inside the browser, SQL is used for database queries, and String is a data type in programming. The correct approach is to match HTML interpretation and page rendering to the software category designed for that purpose.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language and is used to structure web page content.Step 2: Think about how you view web pages. You typically open them using software such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.Step 3: Recognise that all of these programs are web browsers and that they are responsible for reading HTML, applying styles, and rendering the page.Step 4: Compare this understanding with the options. Browser clearly matches this description.Step 5: Conclude that Browser is the correct answer and the other options describe different technologies or concepts.

Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, consider what happens if you open an HTML file directly on your computer. When you double click it, it usually opens in your default web browser, not in a database tool or a plain text data type. The browser’s job is to interpret the tags in HTML and display headings, paragraphs, images, and links in a visually organised way. On the other hand, JavaScript is often embedded in the HTML and executed by the browser but is not itself responsible for interpreting the HTML structure. SQL operates in the database layer and is never used to render pages, confirming that Browser is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
JavaScript is a programming or scripting language that runs in the browser and can manipulate HTML and respond to user actions, but it is not the primary software that reads and interprets HTML documents. SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to query and manage databases, often on the server side, and has nothing to do with rendering web pages in a user interface. String is simply a data type representing a sequence of characters in many programming languages, not a web technology. None of these is incorrect because Browser is a correct and specific term.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the roles of different web technologies and may think that because JavaScript can change the document structure, it is the main tool for reading HTML. It is important to remember that JavaScript operates on the Document Object Model after the browser has already parsed the HTML. Another pitfall is not distinguishing between a language (JavaScript, SQL) and a program (browser). A browser is an application that uses several languages and technologies together to produce the final display.

Final Answer:
The software programs designed to read and interpret HTML and display web pages are Browsers.