Web Standards
We design to the W3C Recommendations for Web Standards. These offer better printing facilities and are more accessible to users with disabilities, and supports different browsers. We use XHTML, along with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
- Likely problems can arise if a browser supports different versions of HTML.
- A web page has no fixed size, although some browsers have predefined sizes that the viewing window fits into, others let you size the screen to fill your monitor. Some of your audience will see your page through tiny portable computer screens, others will have 21" monitors .
- We also consider the many alternatives, for example the Web TV user, mobile phone users, etc.
- The computer monitor resolution can vary from 640 by 480 pixels, to 800 by 600, up to 1280 by 1024 and larger; as we can't determine the options of all your users, we design for the lowest resolution and to address this issue, we use CSS - Cascading Style Sheets which work across a wide variety of modern browsers to set paragraph, font styles, etc.
- Frames - where one area of the browser remains static - we prefer not to use; they can limit search-engine placement, are not printer or 'bookmark' friendly.
- We test sites using different browsers, but especially the two which dominate the market: Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox
Thanks to Jan Hunt, who has given us permission to use the following which explains more about standards.
- Web technologies evolve and so should Web designers
- As professionals we MUST keep abreast of the changing technologies and learn the ones that are applicable to our work.
- Web designers need to know what the W3C is doing; what recommendations are they making
- Web designers need to learn the issues involving W3C recommendations and how these recommendations affect the way we create Web sites
- Only then can we make informed decisions about what technologies to use.
- You owe it to yourself and if that is not enough, you owe it to your clients
- Show your support of the W3C Recommendations for Web Standards by coding to these standards
- Use valid CSS to give style to your site and to make it more accessible.
The Web Standards Project is a grassroots coalition fighting for standards that ensure simple, affordable access to web technologies for all.
See also:
FAQS
Search Engine Optimisation
Valid Code
Guidelines for your Website