Standards and Validation
In 1989 Mr. Tim Berners-Lee with the assistance of Robert Cailliau invented the World Wide Web.
In addition, Mr. Berners-Lee wrote the first World Wide Web server (httpd) as well as the first client program (worldwideweb).
In October of 1994, Mr. Berners-Lee founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
W3C primary mission is to create Web standards as well as guidelines. W3C provides guidelines based on best practice,
regarding how websites as well as web pages should be structured for long term durability. W3C’s validation service serves
as a way to check and proofread web document syntax.
XHTML is the latest hybrid markup language standard for web documents. Information Technology (IT)is a cross between
classic HTML and advanced XML. XHTML validation is actually the checking of documents against the formal HTML standard.
One may ask, what are the advantages to updating my webpage to XHTML?
Valid XHTML improves usability allowing a website to be more easily accessed by people with disabilities.
W3C validation also assists in reducing the amount of coding on each page. This emphasizes the importance of content improving search engine listings.
In addition, websites with valid markup will be easier to access on various types of devices such as PC’s, laptops, PDAs and cell phones.
Validation is fully compatible with a wide range of dynamic pages as well as current and future browsers.
Finally, validation is very important for search engine optimization.
Many search engines check to see if the HTML or XHTML code of your website is valid and if any errors are found your site might be removed from indexes.
Errors can cause spiders to stop searching your website and hamper your optimization efforts.
However, there is currently a debate on whether or not valid HTML or XHTML will take your website to the top of many popular search engines.
There are many sites on the web that are very popular but are poorly coded and have multiple errors.
Making sure that your website conforms to W3C standards will never hurt especially when it comes to improving your sites visibility on the web.
