Website Validation - W3C Coding Standards For Compatibility, Usability and Code Optimization

Website Validation for HTML and CSS

Introduction to Validation

Website validation focuses attention to a websites backend coding. Back end coding includes languages that make it possible for the front end of the website or user interface to function graphically and dynamically. The most common language used is HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). HTML comes in several types such as HTML (Strict), (Transitional), and (Frameset) in version 4.01. Previous version of HTML was version 3.2, most sites are not programmed using 3.2 anymore so I won't go any deeper into older HTML languages

As a standard HTML 4.01 transitional is what most web developers use and in the running XHTML (Extended Hyper Text Markup Language) is quickly making its presence felt online. This article is about validation so if you want to learn more about these languages in depth I suggest visiting www.W3C.org The World Wide Web Consortium.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was created in October 1994 and now boasts over 450 members. The mission is to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. The standards and rules set by the industry must be met in order to assure we are all on the same page and seeing what others see. Microsoft, Netscape, Apple, and other browser companies all follow (or try) these standards to assure all their World Wide Web users view and access information as seamlessly as possible. The rules can't always be met because the rules are still being defined daily as the bar is always being raised.

The Good News! Lucky enough website coding is pretty consistent across the board and it is very possible to follow the rules and achieve total access to your information. Don't let a programmer tell you different, unless your one of those few pushing the edge of creativity where coding is concerned.