[SOLVED] HTML or XHTML

marSoul · #1 Dec 17th, 2007, 22:42

Hi guys,
I have read the article about choosing the right doctype in newsletter, what i want to know that if i don't use xhtml then what will i lose ?
Thanks...

Stuart · #2 Dec 17th, 2007, 23:21

Well, do you mean Strict vs. Transitional or do you mean HTML vs XHTML?

MikeHopley · #3 Dec 18th, 2007, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by marSoul

if i don't use xhtml then what will i lose ?

Nothing.

...except an "X".

Aso · #4 Dec 18th, 2007, 00:45

Oooh I hear a big debate about tag soup coming along...no?

Generally, if you're not using any of the XML features with XHTML, HTML 4.01 Strict is perfectly suitable.

alexgeek · #5 Dec 18th, 2007, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHopley

Nothing.

...except an "X".

and neater code - the brawl begins

Rakuli · #6 Dec 18th, 2007, 04:24

Well in my opinion, the code is as neat as the autor writes it.... You can have a compliant XHTML document that is bloated with unnecessary code and a HTML document that has been written without a single element in excess.

I always use XHTML due to the fact that it is a XML version of HTML. All of the HTML elements are still available but can also be parsed as XML due to the uniform structure required by such documents. I write applications with PHP and having all documents coded in XHTML allows me to use PHP's XML parsing functions to read it, parse it and manipulate it like any other XML document. As ASO says, if you don't plan to use the XML features there aren't any killer features to make one standard recommendation better than another.

XHTML has addition benefits when it comes to accessibility and devices that don't use a standard web-browser interface. A correctly written XHTML document can easily be used to generate output on text-brailes devices and any program that can parse XML. Having said that though, HTML will also do the same. The difference is that XHTML by its recommendation requires a strict, properly formed layout whereas HTML is not quite as firm in this enforcement. Any compliant XHTML document will can be translated but this isn't the same for HTML.

If you use HTML and find yourself slipping into lazy or messy practices, switching to XHTML is a good way of forcing yourself into correctly structured documents as your code won't validate any other way...

Hope that helps a little.

marSoul · #7 Dec 18th, 2007, 08:17

Thnx guys,
So what i understand now is that if i dont need xml then i should use html strict 4.01, right ?

alexgeek · #8 Dec 18th, 2007, 08:25

No it's nothing to do with XML besides the rules that (almost) ever element must be closed.
It doesn't matter whether you use XHTML or HTML just use a strict doctype

MikeHopley · #9 Dec 18th, 2007, 08:59

Quote:

I write applications with PHP and having all documents coded in XHTML allows me to use PHP's XML parsing functions to read it, parse it and manipulate it like any other XML document.

Now that's a good reason for using XHTML.

As Alex said, the really important decision is to use a Strict doctype. And as Rakuli said, the quality of your code is unconnected to whether you use XHTML.

XHTML has certain pitfalls, which I listed in the article (the need for content negotiation, problems with google ads, and the "invalid user comment breaks entire page" issue).

All of these problems can be overcome. I don't find it to be worth the effort, given I have no use for XHTML over HTML. But if you are aware of the issues, there's nothing wrong with using XHTML.

Assuming, of course, that you're serving it with the correct MIME type -- otherwise it becomes invalid HTML, which seems a little stupid, no?

marSoul · #10 Dec 18th, 2007, 09:35

Ok, How you guys choose your doctypes ? i mean what factors are important for you to choose html or xhtml ?

MikeHopley · #11 Dec 18th, 2007, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by marSoul

Ok, How you guys choose your doctypes ? i mean what factors are important for you to choose html or xhtml ?

I've never found a use for XHTML, so I always use HTML 4.01 Strict. Easy decision.

My approach:

Does this project make use of XML, or modules such as MathML?
If yes, use XHTML.
If no, use HTML.

marSoul · #12 Dec 18th, 2007, 10:26

Thanks Mike,
Now i think i got it !

Ed · #13 Dec 23rd, 2007, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHopley

I've never found a use for XHTML, so I always use HTML 4.01 Strict. Easy decision.

My approach:

Does this project make use of XML, or modules such as MathML?
If yes, use XHTML.
If no, use HTML.

Why not learn XHTML and don't bother choosing?

I was all for HTML 4.01 - but - there's no winning. I have not met somebody who has not wanted XHTML in their site. People refer to it (HTML) as "old technology" - it's not, I know, but times do change and it's just like with everything.

I can easily spot that XHTML is the way everything is going, so rather sooner than later.

Thanks,
Ed

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[SOLVED] HTML or XHTML