What is XML?

[TWTCommish]

ARGH! No one seems to get it other than Nate ("jumpthru")...! They have decided to count "<br />" as both an opening and closing tag because it's compatible with older browsers...why not just tell XML That "<br>" is an opening AND closing tag? That way it's compatible, and people don't have to change the habits they're set in.

[jumpthru]

Originally posted by TWTCommish
ARGH! No one seems to get it other than Nate ("jumpthru")...! They have decided to count "<br />" as both an opening and closing tag because it's compatible with older browsers...why not just tell XML That "<br>" is an opening AND closing tag? That way it's compatible, and people don't have to change the habits they're set in.

Okay, I know excactly what your saying...this is very frusterating.

I think its time we just invent our own programming launguage...

[Hierophant]

Tags that require closing tags in XHTML.

• <area />
• <base />
• <basefont />
• <br />
• <col />
• <frame /> (Not available in the default DTD)
• <hr />
• <img /> (Not Available in Strict DTD)
• <input />
• <isindex /> (Not Available in Strict DTD)
• <link />
• <meta />
• <param />
• <li />

This syntax is universal to all tags though. Say you wanted and empty table cell. Today you would write <TD>&nbsp;</td> to acheive this. In an XHTML browser you would simply have to write <td /> to acheive the same effect.

[Website Rob]

Good list there Wayne. With regard to last one, it will not validate in XHTML 1.0 Transitional using <li /> and the closing tag <li> </li> must be used. Up till now, it has been optional to use </li> or not use it, but no longer when coding in XHTML or XML.

[jumpthru]

Okay, it makes more since now...much more.

Why is <base> and <basefout> different tags? Shouldn't it just be <base> and then font can be an attribute in it...

[Hierophant]

Originally posted by jumpthru
Okay, it makes more since now...much more.

Why is <base> and <basefout> different tags? Shouldn't it just be <base> and then font can be an attribute in it...

<base> refers to the base URL of the links in the file.

<basefont> sets the font attributes of the file.

[Hierophant]

Originally posted by Website Rob
Good list there Wayne. With regard to last one, it will not validate in XHTML 1.0 Transitional using <li /> and the closing tag <li> </li> must be used. Up till now, it has been optional to use </li> or not use it, but no longer when coding in XHTML or XML.

I always try to close my list tags. Always just seemed right before. I can tell that bulletin boards such a vBulletin are going to need a lot of work to become XHTML compliant.

[Website Rob]

I know for me it was tough getting into the habit of closing my paragraph tags. The <p> was confusing from the start as some Browsers used it to start a paragraph and some used it to show the "ending" of a paragraph.

This is why with XHTML, you can use <p /> and it will validate, or use the <p> </p> which is also correct. Started using the first one then decided "Ahh, what the heck!" and got myself into the habit of using the second type.

I figure the faster I get into the habit of closing all tags, the easier XML will be. XHMTL coding is already second nature now although I have to admit, my HTML Editor was a big help in that.

[jumpthru]

Originally posted by W. Luke

Originally posted by jumpthru
Okay, it makes more since now...much more.

Why is <base> and <basefout> different tags? Shouldn't it just be <base> and then font can be an attribute in it...

<base> refers to the base URL of the links in the file.

<basefont> sets the font attributes of the file.

Yea, but I think it should just be <base url="bla" font="bla">

Then you can add other attributes such as color or whatever else as the launguage progrssives.

I never even knew you could close <p> tags and whenever my html editor added it, i would remove them cause i thougt it was wrong. Now I make sure they are there.

[CryingWolf]

Originally posted by TWTCommish
ARGH! No one seems to get it other than Nate ("jumpthru")...! They have decided to count "<br />" as both an opening and closing tag because it's compatible with older browsers...why not just tell XML That "<br>" is an opening AND closing tag? That way it's compatible, and people don't have to change the habits they're set in.

That would be breaking the xml rule of a close for every open tag Yeah it can be frustrating but understandable...



<brain on html> <brain on xml />

[CryingWolf]

Originally posted by jumpthru
I think its time we just invent our own programming launguage... [/B]

I think this is what gets us in trouble to begin with,,, But I am with ya all the way...