What is the latest version of HTML as recognized today?

The latest version of HTML is recognized as HTML5. This version was finalized and published as a W3C Recommendation in 2014 and introduced many modern features that enhance web development, including new semantic elements, improved support for multimedia (such as audio and video), and APIs for complex web applications. HTML5 also emphasizes better structure and accessibility, making it crucial for responsive web design and allowing developers to create more interactive experiences without relying extensively on plugins.

While choices like HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 represent earlier standards that laid the groundwork for web development, they do not include the advancements and features introduced in HTML5. Similarly, HTML5.2 is an increment to HTML5 but not the fundamental latest version; HTML5 itself remains the definitive version in the context of the question. Understanding these distinctions is essential for grasping the evolution of HTML and how it impacts modern web technologies.