| HTML validation and CSS validation are controversial | | | | (whatever that may be), your page may contain |
| issues with some people. This article discusses some | | | | HTML errors (or CSS errors) that do not show up |
| of the issues that have come increasingly to the fore | | | | with that browser due to an existing quirk or bug. |
| in web development. The article will also provide a | | | | Another person using a different browser that does |
| practical method that overworked webmasters can | | | | not share that particular bug will wind up viewing a |
| use to improve their website. | | | | page that does not show up correctly. It is also |
| What does Validating HTML or CSS Mean? | | | | possible that later versions of your browser will fix |
| For those who are unfamiliar with what validating a | | | | that bug, and your page will be broken when people |
| web page means, it basically refers to using a | | | | use the latest incarnation of the browser. |
| program or an online service to check that the web | | | | 2. Search Engine Visibility |
| page that you created is free of errors. In particular, | | | | When there are errors in a web page, browsers |
| an HTML validator checks to make sure the HTML | | | | typically try to compensate in different ways. Hence |
| code on the web page complies with the standards | | | | some browsers may ignore the broken elements |
| set by the W3 Consortium (the organisation that | | | | while others make assumptions about what the web |
| issues the HTML standards). There are various types | | | | designer was trying to achieve. The problem is that |
| of validators - some check only for errors; others | | | | when search engines obtain your page and try to |
| also make suggestions about your code, telling you | | | | parse them for keywords, they will also have to |
| when a certain way of writing things might lead to | | | | make certain decisions about what to do with the |
| unexpected results. A CSS validator checks your | | | | errors. Like browsers, different search engines will |
| Cascading Style Sheets in the same manner; basically, | | | | probably make different decisions about those errors |
| most will check them to make sure that they comply | | | | in the page, resulting in certain parts of your web |
| with the CSS standards set by the W3 Consortium. | | | | page not being indexed. The safest way, it is held, is |
| There are a few which will also tell you which CSS | | | | to make sure that your web page validates |
| features are supported by which browsers. Note that | | | | error-free. |
| validating your web page does not ensure that it will | | | | 3. Professionalism |
| appear as you want in various browsers. It merely | | | | Even if you test your web site with all the various |
| ensures that your code is without HTML or CSS | | | | browsers in existence on all the platforms in use |
| syntax errors. Ensuring that your code appears | | | | (Mac, Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, etc) and find that it |
| correctly in different browsers require cross browser | | | | works perfectly in all, errors in your site reflect poorly |
| testing. | | | | on your skill as a web developer. The issue is |
| Why Validate Your HTML Code? | | | | two-fold: firstly, a poorly coded web page reveals |
| 1. It Helps Cross-Browser, Cross-Platform and Future | | | | that either the web designer does not know his stuff |
| Compatibility | | | | or is a sloppy worker; secondly, it affects his |
| Although you may be able to create a web page | | | | marketability. |
| that appears to work on your favourite browser | | | | |