Site Design Web

Developers seldom have control over the display of web sites. Therefore, to avoid distortion of layout, certain norms should be followed. Such norms assure presentation perfect production of web sites. Some of those standards are discussed herewith.

Validation of HTML Document

1. W3C provides online HTML validators. All HTML documents should be checked with that.
2. There are different levels of validation. Some of them are HTML level 2.0 and 3.2 (Wilbur). All specifications are available with W3C. All documents are recommended for validating with respect to the W3C norms.
3. Proper declaration of document type (DOCTYPE) is essential. If DTD is not standard or widely known then DTD needs to refer itself in form of comment within the document.
4. The result of validation should be error free.
5. If errors come out of validation attempt, developer needs to take note of them. The note can be delivered to the HTML document separately. Prior to this action, these notes need to be referenced at the source by a comment. Such comment should justify the invalid construct. The comment should also include how the erroneous code tends to affect text-mode browsers in particular. A reference to an already existing analysis holds sufficient for an established construct which is invalid.

Headers

1. Giving appropriate title to all HTML documents is essential.
2. Other possible header elements in HTML documents can be Style-sheets, Client-side scripts, relational links and META elements.
3. For documents being “front page” or any major entry point for a system the standard recommendations are the following:
   • For web indexers’ assistance keywords and description should be put within Meta elements.
   • “REV=MADE” link demonstrating the developer or maintainer of a document is required to be included.

Use of Tags

1. Use of <blink> is not recommended.
2. <FONT> should not substitute HTML headers <H1> – <H6>.
3. Use of emphasis tags, viz, <FONT>, <B> or <STRONG> is also not recommended for use further in extended passages. These are correct to words and phrases.
4. In an HTML code <H1>…</H1> can be used only once.

Proprietary Markup

General standards: particular cases are dealt with separately below.

1. In an HTML document with respect the existing validation standards; developers can use proprietary tags.
2. Avoiding use of undefined entities is not recommended at all.