Key Takeaways
- The HTML5 specification, unlike traditional software specifications, is led by vendors’ technology ideas and is unlikely to ever be fully complete. Waiting for a final specification means missing out on utilizing this evolving tool.
- HTML5 is not a completely new language, but an evolution of HTML4/XHTML 1.0, with 28 additional tags and a few new techniques. It is already supported by Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera, and can be made compatible with Internet Explorer through a JavaScript shiv.
- HTML5 is rapidly gaining support and evolving with all main browser vendors. It is an incremental evolution of HTML, supporting multimedia elements and new semantic elements, and is seen as the “white-hot” technology of the moment. It’s important not to be left behind in this advancement.
1. The HTML5 Specification Will Never Be Complete
Perhaps that’s an overstatement, but let me explain further…Developers understand software specifications and few would be willing to cut code based on a draft document; however, the HTML5 specification is different to your typical software specification. The W3C is no innovator: it does not lay down rules for browser vendors to follow. Vendors lead the way and their technology ideas are ultimately accepted, rejected, or tweaked to become part of the W3C specification.It’s highly unlikely the HTML5 specification will ever be fully complete. The only point when it could happen is when vendors and the W3C draw a line in the sand and move onto HTML6 (or whatever they name the next standard). If you wait for the final HTML5 specification, you’ll miss out.2. HTML5 is HTML
Unlike the failed XHTML 2.0 specification, HTML5 is an evolution of HTML4/XHTML 1.0. You know most of it already. There are 28 additional tags and a few new techniques, but you won’t be using a completely new mark-up language.Development tools are a little difficult to find, but validators are starting to appear — validator.nu is one of the best.3. Legacy Browser Support is Rarely a Problem
Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera can all use HTML5 today. The users of those browsers tend to upgrade quickly, so there’s little need to worry about old versions that could implement bizarre parsing rules.That leaves us with Internet Explorer. It does not recognize the new tags, but can be forced to parse them if you add a JavaScript shiv to your page which ‘creates’ the associated HTML5 elements, for example:document.createElement("header");document.createElement("footer");document.createElement("nav");// etc, etc…head and IE6, 7, and 8 will magically become HTML5 aware:<!--[if lt IE 9]><script src="http://html5shiv.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script><![endif]-->audio, video, and SVG. In those situations, you’ll need to use a fallback such as Flash, but I suspect we’ll be doing that to support legacy browsers for many years to come.header to be a block-level element, remember to use display: block; in your CSS.4. HTML5 is Happening
Despite the fact that HTML5 has become a loose marketing term like Web 2.0 or Ajax, all the main browser vendors are supporting the standard. They may have their own reasons and agendas, but HTML5 is here today and browser support will continue to improve and evolve at a rapid pace.5. Don’t Be Left Behind!
HTML5 means different things to different people. To most web developers, it’s an incremental evolution of HTML, so it’s less exciting than periphery technologies such as SVG, canvas, standardized audio/video, geolocation, and so on.Many of your clients and possibly your boss will have a different opinion. To them, HTML5 is the white-hot technology they saw mentioned in the business press; it’s in the iPad so it must be cool. So develop a few HTML5 pages now: you’ll become a guru, be the envy of your peers, and will keep ahead of the game!Frequently Asked Questions about HTML5
What are the key features of HTML5 that make it superior to its predecessors?
HTML5 comes with several features that make it superior to its predecessors. Firstly, it supports multimedia elements like audio and video, which were not natively supported in previous versions. This means developers no longer need to rely on third-party plugins to embed multimedia content. Secondly, HTML5 introduces new semantic elements like
How does HTML5 contribute to responsive web design?
HTML5 plays a crucial role in responsive web design. It introduces new semantic elements that allow developers to structure their content more effectively, making it easier to adapt to different screen sizes. Additionally, HTML5’s native support for multimedia elements like audio and video means that these elements can be easily resized and scaled according to the device’s screen size. HTML5 also supports vector graphics, which can be scaled without losing quality, making them ideal for responsive design.
Is HTML5 compatible with all browsers?
HTML5 is designed to be backward compatible with older browsers. However, not all HTML5 features are supported by all browsers. For instance, Internet Explorer 8 and older versions do not support many HTML5 features. It’s always a good idea to check the compatibility of HTML5 features with different browsers before using them in your web development projects.
How does HTML5 improve accessibility?
HTML5 introduces several features that improve web accessibility. The new semantic elements provide a better understanding of the content structure, making it easier for assistive technologies like screen readers to interpret the content. HTML5 also includes ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles that provide additional information about elements, improving their accessibility.
Can I use HTML5 for mobile app development?
Yes, HTML5 can be used for mobile app development. In fact, HTML5 is often used in combination with CSS3 and JavaScript to develop cross-platform mobile apps. These apps can run on different mobile operating systems, including iOS, Android, and Windows, without requiring separate codebases for each platform.
What is the role of HTML5 in SEO?
HTML5 can significantly improve your website’s SEO. The new semantic elements provide a better understanding of your content structure, making it easier for search engines to index your website. Additionally, HTML5’s support for multimedia elements means that you can embed videos and audio directly into your web pages, which can improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.
How does HTML5 support offline browsing?
HTML5 introduces a feature called application cache that allows web applications to store data locally on the user’s device. This means that the web application can still function even when the user is offline. This is particularly useful for mobile applications that need to provide offline functionality.
What are the security features of HTML5?
HTML5 introduces several security features. For instance, it includes the sandbox attribute for iframes, which can restrict the actions that the iframe can perform, thereby preventing potential security threats. HTML5 also supports Content Security Policy (CSP), which can prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
How does HTML5 support multimedia elements?
HTML5 natively supports multimedia elements like audio and video. This means that developers no longer need to rely on third-party plugins to embed multimedia content. HTML5 provides the
What is the future of HTML5?
HTML5 is the future of web development. It is continuously being updated and improved to meet the evolving needs of web developers and users. With its support for multimedia elements, semantic elements, offline browsing, and other features, HTML5 is set to remain the standard for web development for years to come.
Craig BucklerCraig is a freelance UK web consultant who built his first page for IE2.0 in 1995. Since that time he's been advocating standards, accessibility, and best-practice HTML5 techniques. He's created enterprise specifications, websites and online applications for companies and organisations including the UK Parliament, the European Parliament, the Department of Energy & Climate Change, Microsoft, and more. He's written more than 1,000 articles for SitePoint and you can find him @craigbuckler.
