HTML is a markup language used to define the structure and layout of web pages. HTML uses tags to mark elements like headings, paragraphs, links, images, and more. When an HTML file is opened in a web browser, the browser displays the page using the tags to interpret the page's content and structure. Common HTML elements include headings, paragraphs, links, images, lists, tables, forms, and iframes. CSS can also be used to further define styles and visual presentation of HTML elements.