XHTML for Not Yet Techies

XHTML is the latest version of HTML, the linqua fraca of the Internet since 1993 with the creation of the World Wide Web. XHTML is HTML adapted slightly to conform to the coming super language of the Internet, XML.

So what is XHTML?

XHTML is the first step at merging the web into the mega-language XML. To quote the World Wide Web Consortium:

"XHTML is a reformulation of HTML 4.0 as an XML 1.0 application."

So what does that mean? For the average web browser -- right now, nothing.

XHTML will grow in popularity as time goes by. Basically, it makes some slight changes in HTML 4.0 to adjust to the structure of XML. Not everyone will be pleased by these changes, but they do help pave the way toward an XML Internet which will make finding the information we desire much quicker and easier. There will be *NO* HTML 5.0.

f you are a web designer, you should be aware of the changes and even if you haven't changed over yet -- I haven't, because FrontPage doesn't support it yet -- you should be aware of it. The more you can adjust to it, the easier time you'll have in the future when the transition becomes mandatory.

Since XHTML is a step toward integrating web site markup with wireless devices and with VRML, the virtual reality modeling language, you'll eventually need to design in it just to keep your site accessible by surfers.

How often do you shop in a store that looks 30 years behind the times? Not often unless you're in an antique alley. So in the future you will choose not to shop in stores that fail to offer you the structure of XHTML.

If you are considering a career in any area of the Internet beyond the sheer physical router/bridge level, you must become aware of XHTML. It's obviously a must for web designers.

So what are the big changes? As I said, they actually seem minor.

Those of you who don't know HTML and who don't care about the technical aspects of XHTML, might as well skip down to the bottom of the page.

Its tags MUST be in lower case. Sorry about that. Yes, it's a change that seems minor but probably will create the most work for harried web designers who wish to convert from HTML to XHTML.

My advice is, unless you have a desperate need to convert to it immediately, wait for someone to release the automatic software. Me, I'm thankful I generally use lowercase.

All tags must be closed, and in order. No more sloppiness. Current browsers allow it. XHTML doesn't. So don't forget those tags.

Me, I'm hoping that this will force Microsoft to produce a new version of FrontPage that actually thoroughly cleans up editing changes, but I'm not holding my breath. I know it seems crazy, but I write my web pages in the HTML screen of FrontPage, because if I make changes while in the conventional editing page, I know it will fail to clean up the HTML properly.

Also, the <br> and <hr> tags must be closed too. How? Use <br /> and <hr /> instead.

But I don't guarantee you that current browsers will understand those marks.

(Note: FrontPage DID place a line break for the <br /> tag and a horizontal rule for the <hr /> tag, so it does recognize them. Supposedly that mean Internet Explorer does too, but that is not always true.

And all attributes must have values.

Don't ask me why, but "name" as in setting a page anchor tag is being changed to "id." Since current browsers currently don't recognize this, it's recommended you define page anchors with both "name="#thename" AND "id="#thename". No, I'm not rushing to do it either, but it's something to be aware of.

Use must declare a doc type. Yes, I now take it off my web pages too. Like, who cares about the doc type? And maybe it lowers the importance of the title tag to search engine spiders. But XHTML wants it, and for a good reason - it will help determine what level of the language is being used. This will become more important as you want the same web page accessible to both web browsers and wireless devices.

All attribute values must be in quotes. So get in the habit of doing this.

If you want to design web pages, I'm telling you to learn XHTML immediately, if only so you can tell potential employers you are up to date.

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