Xhtml & html

[priya singhai]

Can you explain what XHTML is and how it differs from HTML. What about Tranisitional and Strict Doctypes?

[jedaisoul]

http://htmlhelp.com/faq/html/docs.html#about-xhtml

Basically XHTML is obsolete, never was suitable for general purpose web design, and has been superseded by HTML 5. So the choice is HTML 4 or 5.

[kavinb3netmobi]

XHTML's more strict syntax which is better for SEO. Easy to manage .

[aj_nsc]

XHTML's more strict syntax which is better for SEO. Easy to manage .

Serious fail.

[Jeff Mott]

This may also be helpful.

XHTML vs HTML FAQ

[jedaisoul]

This may also be helpful.

XHTML vs HTML FAQ

Doesn't work. Each link just takes you to a list of unrelated threads.

[Jeff Mott]

Ahh, yes. I guess ignore the "table of contents" links, and instead just scroll down.

[jedaisoul]

Thanks. It still seems to suggest that XHTML is only suitable if you have specific needs that serve a limited client base. It is not an alternative to the general use of html on the web.

[Mr Initial Man]

XHTML is only "obsolete" because Internet Explorer dropped the ball. XHTML 1.x was great to work with (never got to work with XHTML 2.0, sadly).

A lot of web developers whined that the error handling was "draconian", but in reality it was no worse than working with a programming language.

Basically, you have to behave yourself with XHTML (not hard to do, merely make sure all elements are closed and properly nested), quotes around all attributes), while HTML allows you to write slop, and throws in a surprise or two when it comes to the DOM.

For example, in XHTML, if you don't use <tbody> tags, you don't have a <tbody> element. In HTML, the DOM doesn't care. Boy, did that take a while to figure out. Also, in XHTML, your tags have to be written in lower-case letters, and the DOM agrees with that. In HTML, it's case-insensitive, but the DOM says all tag names are in uppercase. That was loads of fun and games, too.

[Jeff Mott]

XHTML is only "obsolete" because Internet Explorer dropped the ball.

I think you're absolutely right. We were supposed to use the compatibility guidelines only until browsers were updated to support XHTML, but for IE, that day never came until it was already too late. XHTML was first released in 2000. IE didn't support it until IE9... in 2011.

[Mr Initial Man]

I honestly think XHTML 2.0 might have gotten somewhere--not far, perhaps, but SOMEWHERE if Internet Explorer had supported XHTML. Alas.

[adumpaul]

XHTML documents must use lower case for all HTML element and attribute names. This difference is necessary because XML is case-sensitive e.g. <li> and <LI> are different tags.

[Mr Initial Man]

XHTML documents must use lower case for all HTML element and attribute names. This difference is necessary because XML is case-sensitive e.g. <li> and <LI> are different tags.

And BOY did that come in handy for scripting.