HTML is a markup language used to create documents designed to be accessed across the World Wide Web using browser software such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The version of HTML in current use is known as XHTML, a stricter, rationalised version of the original HTML specification. One key thing to note about HTML and XHTML pages is that they describe the content and structure of the page rather than the position and presentation of the elements on the page.
The first difference between an HTML and an XHTML page is the document type definition. There are a variety of ways in which this specification can be made in Dreamweaver. One of the easiest is to go to the Modify menu and choose Page Properties. Here, in the Title/Encoding section, one of the options reads Document Type (DTD).
There are quite a few options available in the drop-down menu next to this setting, some relating to HTML version 4 and some to XHTML version 1. These DTD settings specify the rules that the mark-up language must follow so that the browsers can render the content correctly. For any new content you may be creating, the best specification to choose is XHTML 1.0 transitional since it uses the current XHTML specification while allowing backward compatibility with slightly older browsers.
When looking at an HTML page, the structural content may not be immediately apparent. However Dreamweaver provides a number of useful tools for keeping tabs on the structure of your web page content. One of these is called the Tag Selector. Wherever the cursor is positioned, the HTML code relating to that part of the page is displayed in the bottom left of the page on the Status Bar in an area known as the Tag Selector.
When the browser reads the page, the tags surrounding text and other elements communicate to the browser the structural importance of each element. Thus, for example, the H1 tag tells the browser that a piece of text is a major heading, while the H2 tag signifies a sub-heading, and so on. When these tags are displayed in the Tag Selector, you can get an idea of the structure of the page and you can also click on any tag to select the element(s) it contains.
The tags tell the browser the structural importance of each element but the page doesn't contain any information that helps the browser decide how each element should be displayed. This job is done by CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). An XHTML page is still basically an HTML page. However, the syntax used is stricter.
XHTML is case sensitive: HTML is not. In XHTML, tags are always lowercase so the H1 tag has to be written h1. In HTML H1 or h1 can be used.
In XHTML, the closing tag cannot be ommitted: in HTML it is permissible to have an opening tag without a closing tag. One example of this is a horizontal rule (hr) which creates a dividing line between two sections on a webpage. This element is traditionally represented by a single tag, since it can never be used as a container. In XHTML, there is a special syntax for such elements: a single tag which serves as both an opening and closing tag (hr/). In HTML, a single opening tag is used with no closing tag (hr).
In summary, XHTML is the current version of HTML and this is the standard that you should use for any new projects. However, existing projects that you may inherit may well contain HTML rather the XHTML. Therefore, you should be aware of both. Remember also that HTML and XHTML describe only the structure of web page content: neither of them should contain information regarding the presentation and display of this content. The display and presentation of web content should be done using CSS.
The first difference between an HTML and an XHTML page is the document type definition. There are a variety of ways in which this specification can be made in Dreamweaver. One of the easiest is to go to the Modify menu and choose Page Properties. Here, in the Title/Encoding section, one of the options reads Document Type (DTD).
There are quite a few options available in the drop-down menu next to this setting, some relating to HTML version 4 and some to XHTML version 1. These DTD settings specify the rules that the mark-up language must follow so that the browsers can render the content correctly. For any new content you may be creating, the best specification to choose is XHTML 1.0 transitional since it uses the current XHTML specification while allowing backward compatibility with slightly older browsers.
When looking at an HTML page, the structural content may not be immediately apparent. However Dreamweaver provides a number of useful tools for keeping tabs on the structure of your web page content. One of these is called the Tag Selector. Wherever the cursor is positioned, the HTML code relating to that part of the page is displayed in the bottom left of the page on the Status Bar in an area known as the Tag Selector.
When the browser reads the page, the tags surrounding text and other elements communicate to the browser the structural importance of each element. Thus, for example, the H1 tag tells the browser that a piece of text is a major heading, while the H2 tag signifies a sub-heading, and so on. When these tags are displayed in the Tag Selector, you can get an idea of the structure of the page and you can also click on any tag to select the element(s) it contains.
The tags tell the browser the structural importance of each element but the page doesn't contain any information that helps the browser decide how each element should be displayed. This job is done by CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). An XHTML page is still basically an HTML page. However, the syntax used is stricter.
XHTML is case sensitive: HTML is not. In XHTML, tags are always lowercase so the H1 tag has to be written h1. In HTML H1 or h1 can be used.
In XHTML, the closing tag cannot be ommitted: in HTML it is permissible to have an opening tag without a closing tag. One example of this is a horizontal rule (hr) which creates a dividing line between two sections on a webpage. This element is traditionally represented by a single tag, since it can never be used as a container. In XHTML, there is a special syntax for such elements: a single tag which serves as both an opening and closing tag (hr/). In HTML, a single opening tag is used with no closing tag (hr).
In summary, XHTML is the current version of HTML and this is the standard that you should use for any new projects. However, existing projects that you may inherit may well contain HTML rather the XHTML. Therefore, you should be aware of both. Remember also that HTML and XHTML describe only the structure of web page content: neither of them should contain information regarding the presentation and display of this content. The display and presentation of web content should be done using CSS.
About the Author:
The author is a trainer and developer with Macresource Computer Solutions, a UK IT training company offering Adobe Dreamweaver Classes in London and throughout the UK.
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