A software download page should tell visitors what file they need and which platform it supports. Link labels should name the platform and file type.
What You Need to Know
Checksums can help verify file integrity when supplied by a trustworthy source, but HTML alone does not calculate or verify one. Avoid claiming downloads are safe just because a checksum is printed.
The goal is not to collect as many tags as possible. Pick the element that best describes what the content really is.
Example: See It in Action
Here is a simple example to experiment with. Type it, save the file, and check what the browser displays.
This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.
<article>
<h1>Download the App</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="downloads/app-win.zip" download>Windows version</a>
</li>
<li><a href="downloads/app-mac.zip" download>macOS version</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Verify published file hashes before installing software.</p>
</article>Let’s Understand the Example
- Article marks a piece that could make sense on its own, such as a news post or recipe.
- An h1 introduces the main subject of the page. Use the heading level for structure rather than font size.
- Ul groups items where the order does not matter.
- Download suggests saving the linked resource rather than navigating to it; browser and origin rules can affect the result.
- Href contains the destination of a link. A value starting with # points to an id on the same page.
The first example link points to downloads/app-win.zip. Check whether that destination exists relative to the document. A link changes where readers go; it does not perform an action such as saving a form.
What Should You See?
The page should display “Download the App” as a heading, followed by its related content. Change the heading text and refresh the browser to see the result.
Read only the headings, from top to bottom. Do they tell a sensible story? If not, move sections or choose levels that match the content.
Try It Yourself
- Add a Linux download link and a note describing the archive format.
- Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
- Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Displaying a random checksum without explaining how users should verify the real file.
- Avoid picking tags just for their default bold, italic or spaced appearance. Use CSS for presentation.
Key Takeaways
- A software download page should tell visitors what file they need and which platform it supports.
- Article marks a piece that could make sense on its own, such as a news post or recipe.
- Checksums can help verify file integrity when supplied by a trustworthy source, but HTML alone does not calculate or verify one. Avoid claiming downloads are safe just because a checksum is printed.