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Learn to build a simple portfolio website from the ground up. This guide provides a developer's walkthrough with HTML and CSS code for every section. Present your skills professionally online and get noticed by employers and clients with a clean, responsive design.
Looking to build your portfolio but don’t know where to begin? You’re likely here because you've heard every web developer discuss having an online portfolio. But the process feels like coding your entire career from scratch, including choosing a layout, writing your professional background, and organizing your projects.
This blog will show you how to create a simple portfolio website using HTML and CSS. We'll guide you like we’re sitting next to you - step-by-step, conversational, hands-on. Whether you're a beginner or want to polish your contact section or footer section, this is exactly the guide you need.
Let’s display your skills on a browser tab with a user-friendly, responsive design that helps potential clients and employers see you.
Think of your portfolio as your online handshake. It's what speaks before you do.
When potential employers or clients land on your website, they’re not just skimming but evaluating your web development approach, design thinking, and layout instincts.
Here’s what having a simple portfolio website helps with:
Showcases relevant experience
Displays your web applications and projects
Share contact details and social media links
Helps search engines find your name
Positions you as a professional web designer
What exactly do you put in your portfolio? Here’s a quick breakdown of all the content your page should display:
Hero Section: Quick snapshot of who you are.
Projects: Images, links, and source code.
About Me: Your story and professional journey.
Skills & Services: What you do well.
Contact Form: So users can reach out.
Footer Section: Extra links and contact info.
Let's plug that into a diagram.
This diagram shows a basic portfolio website code structure flow, focusing on user experience and easy navigation.
Here’s a clean HTML file template to kick things off. This uses only HTML to build the structure.
1<!DOCTYPE html> 2<html lang="en"> 3<head> 4 <meta charset="UTF-8"> <!-- character encoding --> 5 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> 6 <meta name="description" content="Portfolio of a web developer showcasing skills, projects, and contact details."> 7 <meta name="author" content="Your Name"> 8 <title>Your Name | Portfolio</title> <!-- title displayed on browser tab --> 9 <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css"> <!-- link to your css file --> 10</head> 11<body> 12 13 <header> 14 <h1>Your Name</h1> 15 <p>Web Developer</p> 16 </header> 17 18 <section id="about"> 19 <h2>About Me</h2> 20 <p>Short paragraph about your professional background.</p> 21 </section> 22 23 <section id="projects"> 24 <h2>Projects</h2> 25 <ul> 26 <li><a href="#">Project 1</a></li> 27 <li><a href="#">Project 2</a></li> 28 </ul> 29 </section> 30 31 <section id="contact"> 32 <h2>Contact</h2> 33 <p>Email: your@email.com</p> 34 <p>LinkedIn: <a href="#">linkedin.com/in/yourprofile</a></p> 35 </section> 36 37 <footer> 38 <p>© 2025 Your Name</p> 39 </footer> 40 41</body> 42</html>
This is your foundation. Once the layout is done, you'll style everything using HTML CSS.
Also Read: Styling HTML Elements
You can make your portfolio visually appealing even with a basic HTML and CSS setup. Want a dark background? Need centered titles? A modern text align? Here's how to start:
1body { 2 background: #121212; /* dark background */ 3 color: #fff; 4 font-family: Arial, sans-serif; 5 margin: 0; 6 padding: 0; 7} 8 9h1, h2 { 10 text-align: center; 11} 12 13a { 14 color: #4db8ff; 15 text-decoration: none; 16}
This basic CSS handles readability and appearance across screen sizes - crucial for responsive design.
Without a contact form, you’re leaving your users with no action. Here's how you can add a simple one:
1<form action="mailto:you@example.com" method="post" enctype="text/plain"> 2 <label>Name:</label> 3 <input type="text" name="name"><br> 4 <label>Email:</label> 5 <input type="text" name="email"><br> 6 <label>Message:</label><br> 7 <textarea name="message" rows="5" cols="30"></textarea><br> 8 <input type="submit" value="Send"> 9</form>
Add icons or links to your social media links like Twitter, GitHub, and LinkedIn right below. This increases trust and engagement.
Here’s a content checklist to help you structure all the content clearly:
| Section | Purpose | Tools Used |
|---|---|---|
| Hero Section | First impression | HTML, CSS |
| About | Showcase your story | HTML, paragraph |
| Projects | Highlight web applications | HTML, links, images |
| Contact Section | User outreach | Form, Email |
| Footer Section | Extra links, credits | Simple HTML/CSS |
| Skills/Services | Promote expertise | List, Tags |
| Layout | Responsive design | CSS Grid/Flexbox |
Want to skip writing boilerplate code? Rocket.new lets you type your idea and generate a fully functional site within minutes.
Supports:
Figma to code
HTML with TailwindCSS or vanilla
Flutter, React, and Next.js
GitHub, OpenAI, Stripe, and more integrations
Netlify deployment
Custom screenshots and mockups
Visual editor with real-time preview
Sample prompt to build your portfolio:
Generate a personal portfolio website in HTML and CSS. Include sections for About, Projects, Skills, and Contact. Dark theme with modern fonts and easy navigation.
Your portfolio website code is your introduction in the online world. Even using only HTML and CSS, you can build something clean, fast, and professional. Whether applying to jobs or contacting clients, your web page should speak clearly and stylishly.
Start simple, focus on layout and readability, and highlight your relevant experience and services. Want a head start? Use Rocket to build your simple portfolio in minutes—and share it with pride.
