HTML Versus XHTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language) are both languages used to structure content on the web. While they share similarities, there are significant differences between the two. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right language for your project.

At The Coding College, we aim to simplify these concepts to ensure you can apply them effectively in your development journey.

What is HTML?

HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages. It is flexible and forgiving in terms of syntax, making it widely used for building modern websites.

Key Features of HTML:

  • Case-insensitive tags (<BODY> and <body> are the same).
  • Does not require strict adherence to rules.
  • Supports multimedia integration, links, and structured content.
  • The latest version is HTML5, which introduced semantic tags, APIs, and multimedia features.

What is XHTML?

XHTML is a stricter, XML-based version of HTML. It was designed to improve web standards by enforcing proper syntax and structure.

Key Features of XHTML:

  • Case-sensitive (all tags must be lowercase).
  • Requires well-formed code (e.g., closing all tags).
  • Based on XML, making it extensible and more consistent.
  • Commonly used in the early 2000s but has been largely replaced by HTML5.

Key Differences Between HTML and XHTML

FeatureHTMLXHTML
Syntax RulesFlexible and forgivingStrict and well-formed
Tag NamesCase-insensitiveCase-sensitive
Closing TagsNot mandatory for some tagsMandatory for all tags
AttributesAttribute values optionalAttribute values required
DoctypeSimple or omittedStrict and required
ParsingBrowser interprets freelyFollows XML parsing rules

Example Comparison

HTML Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>HTML Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to The Coding College</h1>
  <img src="image.jpg">
</body>
</html>

XHTML Example:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
<head>
  <title>XHTML Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Welcome to The Coding College</h1>
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Example Image" />
</body>
</html>

Key Observations:

  • XHTML requires alt attributes for images and a self-closing / for void elements (<img />).
  • Tags and attributes are lowercase in XHTML.

Why Choose HTML?

  1. Ease of Use: HTML is simpler and easier to learn.
  2. Compatibility: Widely supported by modern browsers.
  3. Dynamic Features: HTML5 supports APIs like geolocation, video, and canvas.

Why Choose XHTML?

  1. Consistency: Ideal for applications requiring strict code.
  2. XML Integration: Works well with XML-based systems.
  3. Data Portability: Easier to transfer between systems.

Current Trend: HTML5

HTML5 has largely replaced XHTML, as it combines the flexibility of HTML with the structure and features of XHTML. Unless your project has specific requirements, HTML5 is the recommended choice for modern web development.

Conclusion

Both HTML and XHTML have their strengths and weaknesses. While HTML is more forgiving and widely used, XHTML enforces stricter coding practices.

For more web development tips and tutorials, visit The Coding College. Start building robust and modern web applications today!

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