How Do You Create a Website with a WYSIWYG HTML Editor?
Updated
You create a website with a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) HTML editor by building pages visually instead of writing code: you lay out text, images, and links on a canvas that resembles the finished page, and the editor generates the HTML and CSS for you. Dynamic HTML Editor, for example, is described as a WYSIWYG editor that supports both CSS and table-based layouts and emphasizes "simplicity and ease of use" with "virtually no learning curve." This approach suits small sites, portfolios, and simple business pages where you want direct control over the design without learning to code. It is less suited to large, database-driven applications that require server-side programming.
What a WYSIWYG HTML Editor Actually Does
A WYSIWYG editor sits between you and the underlying code. You work in a visual view; the tool writes the HTML markup and CSS styles. Dynamic HTML Editor's page describes it as a "powerful HTML (website design) Editor" that lets you "create your site in a WYSIWYG environment using both CSS and/or tabled layouts."
Two layout approaches are worth understanding before you start:
| Layout method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CSS layout | Positioning and styling handled through stylesheets | Modern, responsive-friendly pages |
| Table layout | Page structure built from HTML tables | Simple, predictable grids; legacy compatibility |
The editor supports both, so you can pick per project. If you are unsure, start with CSS layout; it is the more flexible foundation if the site will grow.
Step-by-Step: Build Your First Page
1. Set up a local project folder
Create a folder on your computer for the whole site, with subfolders for images and any other assets. Keeping everything in one place makes the later upload step straightforward and prevents broken image links.
2. Choose your layout approach and start a page
Open the editor and create a new page. Decide whether you will build with CSS or tables (see table above). The editor's design emphasizes simplicity, so the visual canvas should closely match what visitors will see.
3. Add content visually
Place text, insert images from your project folder, and add hyperlinks by selecting the element and pointing it at a target page or URL. Because you are working in a WYSIWYG view, formatting changes appear immediately on the canvas.
4. Preview and check the code
Preview the page in a browser to confirm the layout holds up. Dynamic HTML Editor's materials reference "w3c code," so check that the generated HTML is valid — this reduces the chance of pages rendering differently across browsers.
5. Speed things up with templates and extensions
The editor's site lists Templates and Extensions among its resources. Starting from a template gives you a working structure to customize rather than building every page from scratch; extensions add functionality without hand-coding.
6. Publish by uploading your files
When the site is ready, upload the HTML files and your asset folders to a web host. The local folder structure you built in step 1 maps directly to what you upload, so relative links and images keep working.
Common Pitfalls to Watch For
- Broken image paths after upload. If images were linked from outside your project folder, they will not travel with the site. Keep all assets inside the folder from the start.
- Mixing layout methods mid-project. Switching between CSS and table layouts on the same page can produce inconsistent results; choose one per page.
- Skipping the code check. Visual previews can hide markup issues that show up in other browsers — validate before publishing.
- Forgetting mobile visitors. A fixed table layout may not adapt to small screens; test the preview at narrow widths.
Is This the Right Approach for You?
Choose a WYSIWYG editor like Dynamic HTML Editor if you want to create a good-looking site quickly with minimal learning, and your site is primarily static pages of content. If you need user accounts, databases, or custom server logic, a visual HTML editor alone will not cover it — you would pair it with a development platform or CMS. For straightforward "make your own website" projects, the visual route removes the coding barrier entirely.