HTML tags are an essential part of web development. They provide structure and formatting to the content displayed on websites. Without HTML tags, web pages would be plain and unorganized. HTML tags allow developers to create headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, and much more. They also enable the styling of text and the layout of elements on a page. In short, HTML tags are the building blocks of the web, bringing life and interactivity to the online world.