Chapter 2 - XHTML Basics

This chapter provides an introduction to XHTML. Including the anatomy of a Web page, formatting text, physical and logical styles, creating ordered and unordered lists, and configuring special characters.

Firefox vs Internet Explorer

Mozilla's latest browser, Firefox, was downloaded over 10 million times the first month it was available. Users are citing advantages such as tabbed browsing, improved security, and live bookmarks. Recent surveys have found that Internet Explorer's popularity has dipped for the first time in years.

Will Firefox replace Internet Explorer as the most popular browser? Only time will tell, but Firefox's market share increases are impressive. Recent reports by Janco Associates (10% market share). OneStat.com (14% US market share), and Net Applications (12% market share) show continued growth. View Lunch 2.0 for a look inside the Mozilla Corporation.

On 10/18/06 Microsoft released a new version of Internet Explorer. Check out the CNET review of IE7.

Textbook Links

• W3C Resources
  • W3C
  • W3C HTML Validator
  • W3C CSS Validator
• Browser Downloads
  • Netscape
  • Mozilla
  • Firefox
    Download "Web Developer" Extension for Firefox
  • Opera
    

Web-Safe Fonts

Not every computer is guaranteed to have the same font typefaces installed. If a web developer configures a font that is not present on the vistor's computer, the browser default (usually Times New Roman) will be displayed.

So, the question is: What fonts are safe to use?
The answer can be found at the Web-Safe Font Chart.

The Next Step for Web Markup Languages

An independent group, WHAT-WG (Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group), has been working outside of the official W3C since 2004 towards a new "version" of HTML. In March 2007 the W3C announced a new offical HTML Working Group that is expected to build on and extend WHAT-WG's efforts.

According to the W3C HTML Working Group's charter, their charge is to recommend a new standard that combines HTML and XHTML: "This group will maintain and produce incremental revisions to the HTML specification, which includes the series of specifications previously published as XHTML version 1. Both XML and 'classic HTML' syntaxes will be produced." More Information.

XHTML/HTML Developers Helping Each Other

Web development is a field that is ever-changing. What's a web developer to do?
Consider joining one or more professional organizations.

The World Organization of Webmasters (WOW) is a leading organization in providing certification and educational resources to web professionals in all phases of their career. WOW offers a variety of resources for web developers including workshops, webinars, courses, and the WOW Technology Minute. Visit the web sites of these organizations to find out if there is a local chapter near you. If there are no local chapters, perhaps you can join the national organization and be a founder of a new local chapter right in your area.

Some web developers also consider joining an organization such as the HTML Writer's Guild which recently merged with the International Association of Webmasters. This organization offers online classes in technologies related to web development. It also provides listservs for members to discuss issues related to the web world including HTML, XML, CSS, and the business of web development.

Meeting (virtually or in-person) with other information technology students and professionals can help you develop skills and may even open some doors for you when you are ready for your first (or next) job.

Web Standards

As you work through this textbook, you'll create web pages that follow Web standards using XHTML 1.0 Transitional and CSS. View this Business Week slideshow to find out how and why Web standards were developed.

XHTML Resources

The XHTML Web Design for Beginners Tutorial from MIS Web Design offers another look at some of the topics in this chapter. Explore the site and discover other informative articles and tutorials.

Quick Reference Lists:
XHTML Element List
HTML Cheat Sheet

W3C Mobile Web Initiative and Mobile Browsers

Tim Berners-Lee announced that the W3C has started a Mobile Web Initiative (W3C MWI). The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the web experience for mobile devices and to make "Web access from a mobile device as simple, easy and convenient as Web access from a desktop device".

As you begin to develop web pages, you may want to test them with mobile browsers. Links to mobile browser simulators are below:

• Opera for Mobile
• WinWap SmartPhone Browser Emulator
• OpenWave Phone Simulator
• Nokia Mobile Internet Toolkit
• Microsoft SmartPhone SDK

Chapter Updates

Prime Properties Case Study:
1. Page 69 - the Navigation paragraph should contain the following text:   "Home  |  Listings  |  Financing  |  Contact"

2. Page 70 - In the "Hints" section. The footer area font size should be set to "1" (not "-1").

Questions or Comments?

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Send an e-mail to webdevfoundations@hotmail.com