XHTML
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XHTML |
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Meanwhile, you can see how the move is progressing at the status page.
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Introduction Finding other books |
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Introduction |
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XHTML, essentially a reimplementation of HTML 4.01 as an XML language, has been the W3C's "HTML" standard since January 2000; it opens up the path to extensible and semantic markup, and presentation adapted to different client devices. It's amazing then that only now tools like HomeSite 5 and Dreamweaver 5 are appearing with specific XHTML support built-in. Since this is such an important subject, and XHTML is rather fundamentally different from HTML in many respects, I took a really close look at books available about XHTML. I considered books for three target audiences: those new to markup ("how do I make a web site"), those who already know (some) HTML but want to learn how to apply the new standard ("how is XHTML different from HTML"), and those faced with converting an existing HTML web site to XHTML in order to take advantage of the new possibilities and future extension ("how do I get from here to there"). Obviously there will be some overlaps, both in audiences, and in books aimed at them. Wherever possible, I have reviewed the actual books, spending hours in the local bookstore(!); some books that were not available there yet will have more informed reviews later. NOT recommendedWhile you'll find books here that I recommend or that at least look interesting enough to warrant a mention, I really should mention a few books that I do not recommend. (If you see them coming up in the 'Amazon recommends' sidebar, ignore them.) Looking through these pages, you must have noticed that I am generally a fan of O'Reilly's books. Well, there is always the exception that proves the rule: I think that HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide 4th Edition must be the worst O'Reilly book ever. While the previous HTML edition still had clear markers for browser-specific tags and attributes in the syntax boxes for each tag, and information about what is required (though sometimes incorrect), incredibly in this edition such essential information has been removed, as can be seen from the sample chapter about frames. XHTML is relegated to a single chapter at the end, effectively treated as an afterthought, while for actual information about what is required and what is deprecated you'll just have to read the reprinted DTDs. In fact, if you already own this book, I'd advise you to burn it or find some other creative purpose for it (use its pages to make party decorations for your daughter's birthday, for instance)! Another book I looked at is XHTML Essentials: While this is clearly aimed at migration from HTML to XHTML, and does contain some good content, it's very incomplete, and the quickref manages to mention only tags - no attributes at all! There are much better and more complete books for those who are faced with conversion to XHTML. |
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XHTML Fast & Easy Web Development
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XHTML by Example
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XHTML Example By Example
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XHTML 1.0 Language and Design Sourcebook: The Next Generation HTML
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Background
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This book covers the details of HTML, the
newer XHTML language, and the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
language for defining formatting and layout. Not quite for real beginners, as it assumes at least a working knowledge of
HTML.
(Not 'physically' reviewed yet.)
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Mastering XHTML
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Background |
Although the cover claims this is for all levels, it's clearly not suitable for absolute beginners.
A good book if you already know a little HTML; it uses a clever step-by-step method
to show how to build a tag, and has a nice section on adding and deleting rows and columns in tables (I've never seen this so clearly
explained).
The book is especially good if you need to convert a site from HTML. There are
occasional errors, but these are offset by some good explanations of issues I haven't seen elsewhere. Covers technologies beyond "pure"
XHTML (style sheets, JavaScript, Multimedia) though
these are aimed only at "web pages": there's nothing about WAP, XHTML
Basic or even XForms. Good attention is paid to what is required and deprecated, and to validation and repair. And it contains the best
XHTML reference I've seen in any book yet, with all elements and
attributes listed, including first browser support or standard as well as whether something is required or deprecated: much more than a
reprint of the DTD that many books resort to.
Get it!
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Beginning XHTML
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Background
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The title of this book is definitely misleading: it's certainly not for beginners; instead, it's
aimed at those who already have good knowledge of HTML and are now starting on the
next step: the transition to XHTML. With this many authors,
some overlap between the chapters seems unavoidable.
(Not 'physically' reviewed yet.)
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XHTML: Moving Toward XML
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Background
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This looks interesting enough to warrant a mention. St. Laurent is an XML expert. As the companion web site explains:
XHTML: Moving Toward XML helps Web developers make the transition from 'traditional' HTML to the World Wide Web Consortium's new XHTML. Web developers who have spent years dealing with cross-platform chaos brought on by the 'browser wars' can finally start moving to a single standard, but making use of XHTML requires a significant change in development style as well as patience with a few legacies of HTML.
You'll definitely need a firm grasp of HTML to use this book.
(Not 'physically' reviewed yet.)
Finding other books |
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You can use these search forms to search Amazon.com's or Amazon.co.uk's catalog for books, software, and more. And
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