Why Use a W3C Standard
I have had numerous people wonder why we promote a W3C standard and I thought it would be a good idea to try to explain the reason.
In any other form of endeavor [ i.e, engineering, architecture, manufacturing, etc., etc. ] you have a standard for the end result. I am speaking from the point of view in the United States. I can not speak for every country, though most industrialized nations have some form of standard. In the United States they are known as ASCI standards.
What puzzles me is that some in the computer industry [ in this case I'm speaking of web developers ] want to disregrad a standard when it comes to computers and the Internet. It would be much easier for all concerned if there was a standard for designing software, hardware, and in this case web pages.
How many times have you created a terrific looking page in, lets say on a mac, just to have it look like %4#)*&! on the web. Or what about when you design for Netscape and then it looks funking on Internet Explorer or visa versa. Or you have a 19 inch monitor and everything is perfect. Then you view you site on a 15 inch monitor and need to do it over to compensate for every browser, every size monitor, and keep the speed in the site so those surfing the web don't blow you off.
After two decades Apple and Microsoft still havn't come to an agreement. Neither has Microsoft with Adobe. Isn't it time that the games stop and we save more time on our creations.
How much time would you save in a week? ...in a month, or better yet, in a year, if there was a standard that you could go by? Perhaps you could save enough time to complete another project that may pay you to take a vacation. We could all meet in Tahiti and get a sun tan
If the software and hardware vendors can never get together perhaps we as web developers can do it for them.
Now the question is; why the W3C standard?
Frankly because it is the only global standard out there. We must begin somewhere, so why not with the World Wide Web Consortium. [ http://www.w3c.org ] They have been at it a long time.
The problem seems to be that some people think they have some hidden agenda. Maybe they do. Perhaps it is to create a global standard that we can all use.
The Surfmeister
http://biogevity.biz
Megan posted this at 02:38 — 4th December 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
As Busy said in Critiques, I think that the standard is a useful guide but not gospel. The way you have laid down the law about it in your site could definitely be scary to potential webmasters. The standard itself is a little on the scary side too!
Okay, I admit it, I haven't read it. Sue me. I know that it does say something about not using tables for layout and to use stylsheets instead. Yeah, that's realistic.... Really, though, I think that as long as a page works in most browsers then there shouldn't be a problem, whether it validates or not. Of course, working with the standard does make cross-browser compatibility a heck of a lot easier.
Megan
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Busy posted this at 04:13 — 4th December 2001.
He has: 6,151 posts
Joined: May 2001
I used to make all my sites to W3C specs, then found out that the W3C specs are to advanced for the net, they cater for the latest browser, they try to make everyone comply with their standards, I dont see Microsoft nor Netscape listening to them.
The way it works is the W3C gives out guide lines for the browser and web master to follow, problem is no one listens as its very one sided.
a few tags that dont comply with W3C standards are body margins, backgrounds in tables, certain table layouts etc that actually work very well in the version 4,5 and 6 browsers.
DHTML was meant to be this new generation language, but sadly so much of its not supported, the W3C set guidelines for many web languages (and the keyword is guidelines) XHTML was released nearly two years ago (W3C had a big part in that - the next generation HTML) but again it hasnt caught on.
my advice - stick to what works, done properly it can display in multi browsers, doesnt limit you to certain ways.
I have tried reading there site, but I'd say their site would have to be one of the worst sites to naviagate around, sure their pages comply to xhtml and html 4 standards but the site isnt user friendly, give me user friendly anyday.
here is a quote from their site
keywords here being "pointers" and "guidelines"
Suzanne posted this at 05:48 — 4th December 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
http://www.macworld.com/2001/09/howto/webpublishing.html
and
http://www.zeldman.com/lectures/standards/
This is why standards are important, and how easy they are to implement.
It's not always possible, but it is most of the time. But if you work towards having valid code, you shoot a number of fish in a barrel (to mix metaphors) at the same time: accessibility, future compatibility, time spent designing.
Coupled with sensible use of technology like templates and includes, you can put together very complex sites far easier, maintain them easier and update them in the future with minimal effort.
Consistency and standards go hand in hand.
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