Chapter 2 XHTML Basics
This chapter introduces Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the language used to create Web pages, and eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML), the latest version of HTML. The chapter begins with an introduction to the syntax of XHTML, continues with the anatomy of a Web page, and introduces block-level and inline formatting and demonstrates hyperlinks as sample pages are created. You will learn more if you work along with the sample pages in the text. Coding XHTML is a skill and every skill improves with practice.
The FireFox and Internet Explorer Browsers
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.
Will Firefox replace Internet Explorer as the most popular browser? Only time will tell, but Firefox's market share increases are impressive. View Lunch 2.0 for a look inside the Mozilla Corporation.
Net Applications reported that Internet Explorer 8 gained a 3% market share within the first month of its release in March, 2009. As of July 2009, Firefox has tracked over 1 billion downloads. A December 2009 Market Share report shows Internet Explorer with 63.2%, Firefox with 24.71%, Safari with 4.36%, and Google's Chrome browser with 3.93% usage.
Which browser is currently most popular? Check out the interactive charts at StatCounter for the most up-to-date information.
Which browser is better than others? The answer is, "it depends". For some details about newer browser verions, view this informative article about browser features.
Resources & Chapter Links
W3C Resources
Browser Downloads
- Firefox
Free "Web Developer" Extension for Firefox
This tool will save you hours of work—validate your XHTML and CSS with just a few mouse clicks—view image information—and more! - Internet Explorer 8
- Chrome
- Opera
- Mobile Browser Emulators
- .mobi emulator
- Opera mini emulator
- iPhone emulator
HTML 5 The Next Step for Web Markup
A W3C Working Group is drafting a new version of HTML and XHTML — HTML 5. HTML 5 is a superset of HTML 4, provides for the use of XHTML-like syntax, and is intended to be backward compatible.
HTML 5 Resources
- HTML5 W3C Working Draft
- W3C Web Developer’s Guide to HTML 5
- W3C Interactive Chart of HTML 4 and HTML 5 Elements
- HTML 5 Doctor
- HTML 5 Demos
- HTM5 Cheat Sheet
The Web Development Profession
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.
Chapter Updates
- Hands-On Practice 2.7 (pages 41-42)
You may notice that the code on page 41 includes a list item for iPlanet ( <li>iPlanet</li> ) but that Figure 2.13 and Figure 2.14 on page 42 display the text "Sun Java System Web Server".
In order for your web page to match the figures and the suggested solution, replace <li>iPlanet</li> with
<li>Sun Java System Web Server</li>.
- Page 47
The opening <strong> tag is missing in the second line of the first code sample. The code should be:
<li><strong>Determine the intended audience</strong><br />
- Page 50
Use the special character code | to display the vertical bar | in the navigation area on the resume.html and favorites.html pages.
- Fish Creek Case Study (page 65)
In the second bullet point please replace the word "unordered" with "definition".
- Prime Properties Case Study (page 72)
The first sentence on the page should be, "Code anchor tags so that Home links to index.html, Listings links to listings.html, Financing links to financing.html, and Contact links to contact.html."
- Checkpoint 2.1 #3 answer on page 619.
The third sentence should be "The body section is located between the <body> and </body> tags.
Questions or Comments?
The author would like to hear from you!
Send an e-mail to webdevfoundations@gmail.com