Meta Tags / Alt Tags/robots is confusing

[CaronWorldWide]

I thank you all for looking at this topic, and I know by now you all have seen this same question but I ask you to be patient.
What are Meta Tags? Where do I put them? Are they the same as Meta Keywords and Meta Descriptions? I have searched the topic in the search part of this site and it gave me over 200 pages to look at.
Alt tags what are those and how important are they?Are they the same as Meta tags?
Robots are another thing I don't understand. What are they where do I put them and where do I get them?
As you may have figured out I am new to the whole concept of trying to have an online site. I have to admit computer talk is not my second language, so if you all dont mind, if you should respond to such a large bunch of questions from me on this subject, the simpler the wording in the answer the better my understanding of the answer.
Once again I thank you all so much for your time on reading my post
Sincerely
Sheila

[sudhani]

Here is the Official source:
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/struct/global.html Check the meta data there.

Here is something from WPW
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=13731

Need more help?

[CaronWorldWide]

Thank You Sudhani
I will read over those links you put here and I will hopefully understand them. ( I think I can ....I think I can ) After I read them both if I do have any more questions I will ask away. Thank you so much for your time
Sheila