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The following three sites (in order) are where I learned HTML and then proceeded to update to XHTML:

http://www.pagetutor.com/

http://www.echoecho.com/

http://www.w3schools.com/

You could probably skip the middle one as it doesn't offer much information the other two don't have. At the risk of sounding corny: practice makes perfect.

AMEND:!: pagetutor.com is really great because it makes HTML easy to understand. I went through that 5 years ago when I was in 4th grade. That should tell you something. W3schools is good too because it offers a built in practice page where you can edit the left pane and it will show in the right pane.

Another site that I haven't had a chance to see how good their tutorials are: http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/

Edited by Snaxe
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  • 1 month later...
XML is HTML its just simplified a bit more. For instance, when adding color, instead of color=#00ff00 it would be color=green.  Here is the best Tables "cheat sheet" I have found.. http://wp.netscape.com/assist/net_sites/table_sample.html  ...that will help a ton.

I'm guessing you meant XHTML and not XML. I'm not sure I agree that XHTML is simplified, and I'm quite sure that plain old HTML accepts color names as well as hexidecimal values.

XHTML is just the latest HTML specification. Think of XHTML 1.0 as HTML 4.0, but with stricter rules for syntax. The link that handplane left explains the differences very well (there aren't many).

Here's a quick lowdown:

  • XHTML requires html, head and body elements. HTML allows you to omit these.
  • XHTML requires a DOCTYPE declaration. HTML does not.
  • All XHTML must be in lower case. Again, HTML doesn't care.
  • In XHTML, all attribues must have a value. Where HTML will allow you to use the attribute "selected" in an option tag, in XHTML, it must be written as selected="selected".
  • In XHTML, all tags must be closed, even the ones that don't normally have closing tags, such as the break tag. See the w3schools article for details.

I've found that a web page is much more likely to be cross-browser compatible if I stick to XHTML syntax, and use CSS for formatting instead of HTML. Validating your (X)HTML is a good idea too. Syntax errors can confuse the heck out of the best of browsers.

I realize that this thread is a couple of months old, and that I'm probably talking to the wind, but I love the sound of my fingers hitting the keyboard, so it's cool. :)

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BurtStark, you forgot about how in XHTML in order to be valid, all attributes must be enclosed in quotes, while HTML yet again doesn't care. Example:

HTML: <a href=http://www.thelazygamer.com/>text</a>

XHTML: <a href="http://www.thelazygamer.com/">text</a>

An example for the self closing break tag is: <br /> for those who did not understand and are too lazy to click the links (I don't blame you)

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I'm guessing you meant XHTML and not XML. I'm not sure I agree that XHTML is simplified, and I'm quite sure that plain old HTML accepts color names as well as hexidecimal values.

No, I ment XML.

XHTML is just the latest HTML specification. Think of XHTML 1.0 as HTML 4.0, but with stricter rules for syntax. The link that handplane left explains the differences very well (there aren't many).

XML IS html 4.0... also it depends on what version of html as far as accepting color names or numbers

although you give the link http://www.w3.org/XML it appears as though you have not been there. You should study what you say before you post.

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although you give the link http://www.w3.org/XML it appears as though you have not been there. You should study what you say before you post.

That was unneccesarily rude, Crow. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just trying to clear up some misconceptions that you have. Sorry for trying to help.

Regarding your suggestion that I study what I say, I earned a certificate in designing and implementing XML applications from New York University, and I use XHTML and XML for a living, so I know what I'm talking about. XML is NOT HTML 4.0.

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I apollogize, I should not have been rude in return to your comment... and I think its great you graduated from NYU. Allthough if any misconceptions need to be cleared up..as you put it.. then I suggest you email them to w3 because if you read the intro to html 4.whateverthelatestversionis they call it xml...

Now the simplified part I said because ..well.. it is. More strict..? yes because cell phones do not have the capabilities as of yet to handle the amount cache (or so says w3 anyway) .. being "more strict" means little to me though as when I learned html I learned to close my tags

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Apology accepted, Crow. It's all good. :D

**Burt shakes Crow's hand**

I'm not sure what you are referring to at W3 (4.whateverthelatestversionis?). The very first line on the page I linked to reads, "XHTML is the next generation of HTML..." I looked on the Introduction to HTML page as well, and didn't see anything there referring to XML. I also looked on the page about XML that you linked to, and I don't see any reference made to HTML. It doesn't really matter. I was just curious what you were talking about.

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well... here again I have'nt a leg to stand on. I cant find the "intro" were I had read that. What I do remember is this, the very first time I visited w3, and on there home page, was an article about html 4.01 (couldnt remember earlier if it was 4.1 or 4.01.. hence whateverthelatestversionis) Now.. my curiosity peeked..I perused through thier interpretation of html 4.01 and its meaning (also it seems like I remember html 4.01 was just talk at the time..."on the drawing board" if you will).

I have fumbled through every accessable page at w3 and the only thing I find, is word for word what you have previously stated. I thought that maybe I mistook html 4.01 for dhtml, yet nothing that even remotely coincides with anything I have said.

Maybe my mistake is between DHTML and HTML 4.01 ...I dont know but I know I am tired of looking for something that obviously does not exist and again I offer my most humble apollogies.

(off the record..you'd think being that I manage several different sites my dumbass might know the difference... geeesh.. wtg Crow!)

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Psst...Crow...It's 4.01. They stopped there and went to XHTML

And for any wondering: DHTML is just a fancy word for a set of CSS and JavaScripts that one can do to add much more dynamicity (making up words works for me) to a page.

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