| We have all heard of HTML. HTML stands for | | | | document types are all XML-based, and ultimately are |
| Hypertext Markup Language. What is a hypertext | | | | designed to work in conjunction with XML-based user |
| markup language, you ask? It is a language for | | | | agents. XHTML is the successor of HTML, and a |
| specifying how certain text should appear. When you | | | | series of specifications has been developed for |
| design a web page, you want certain content or text | | | | XHTML - |
| to be displayed in a specific way. You may want | | | | XHTML is what is known as a meta-language, which |
| some text to appear in bold or italics, while other | | | | is a language for defining a markup language. To put |
| text you may want to display larger or in color. | | | | it simply, SGML (Standard Generalized Markup |
| HTML is not the only type of markup language. | | | | Language) is the basis for HTML. XML is a more |
| There are markup languages that apply to other | | | | refined subset of SGML, and forms the basis for |
| types of applications, such as word processing or | | | | XHTML. On the whole, XHTML allows for more |
| other software applications. However, HTML was by | | | | flexibility than HTML. |
| far the most important markup language ever | | | | XHTML was developed for two reasons: (1) to try to |
| created, as it became the standard for displaying | | | | create a language that could more effectively |
| information on what is now known as the world wide | | | | convey the meaning of a particular webpage to a |
| web, or internet. | | | | computer, and (2) to create a layout for webpages |
| However, HTML is not the only markup language | | | | that would be universally understood by browsers |
| being used on the internet today. Another, better | | | | running on different platforms or on different types |
| version of HTML evolved as programmers began to | | | | of screens, whether it be a PC platform with a |
| realize that HTML was innately flawed in a variety of | | | | standard 800 X 600 monitor, a laptop, a cell phone, |
| ways. | | | | or any other device. |
| By 1999, a new specification was written in a | | | | So, to all you web designers out there, it is probably |
| language called XML, which forms the basis for | | | | time to start designing your most important web |
| XHTML. The World Wide Web Consortium says the | | | | pages in XHTML. As almost every electronic device |
| following about XHTML: | | | | on the market is now equipped with internet access, |
| - The Extensible HyperText Markup Language | | | | it is important to use a versatile programming |
| (XHTML) is a family of current and future document | | | | language like XHTML so that your web pages can be |
| types and modules that reproduce, subset, and | | | | viewed and properly formatted across a wide variety |
| extend HTML, reformulated in XML. XHTML family | | | | of platforms. |