Mastering HTML, CSS, web design -- practice exercises, or just start your own site?

[Tasaio]

Greetings,

(Please don't flame for asking such a basic question.)

I'm trying to build a website, so I've set myself the task of learning CSS and HTML...

However, the tutorials tell me to practice by experimentation.

Is there a list of concrete HTML/CSS homework exercises you can recommend? Or am I going overboard? I've already made a nice-looking website, by referring to online resources. I don't feel that I've mastered web-design, but I'm able to work on my site no problems.

Steve says to approach something with the intention of mastering it, but does that mean memorizing all the CSS commands, all the different types of font, etc.?

[Erki]

HTML and CSS aren't too hard though so if you take it seriously then it wouldn't take too long to master them.

[absvan]

Dont try to master it by remembering the fonts etc...in fact you dont have to. All you have to know is how to use them and what you need to use if you want a particular design. So thats what they mean by experimenting.

Web designing is easy. Its not hard like programming. You will build a great site.

[Ibanez]

Do practice exercises would be a waste of time in my opinion.

Just get started on your website. Also you should learn XHTML instead of HTML, XHTML is almost the same, but slight differences.

[Dani]

Become a Nike fan and Just Do It!

I always learn new programming stuff by experimentation. For me anyway it's the best way.

Reading books just doesn't sink in.

I do it, then read the book after I am comfortable with it. That way I already know the basics, have a feel for the interface and I am just learning the complicated stuff.

You will remember a lot more by doing than by reading.

[Erki]

Another way of learning (X)HTML and CSS is studying source codes and style sheets of other websites.
Just don't duplicate them, they might be copyrighted.