When it comes to building web pages, the two terms "HTML" and "XHTML" often come up. While both HTML and XHTML are used to create web pages, there are important differences between the two in terms of syntax, structure, and compatibility. This chapter provides a detailed, step-by-step explanation of HTML vs. XHTML, taking you from the basics to more advanced concepts. We will explore the similarities and differences between them and demonstrate the key features with examples.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to create web pages. It structures content on the web by using elements like headings, paragraphs, links, images, and more.
<div>
and <DIV>
are treated the same.
HTML Example
This is an HTML Page
Welcome to the world of HTML!
XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) is a stricter version of HTML, following the rules of XML (Extensible Markup Language). It was developed to bring more consistency and structure to web development by enforcing strict rules that make code cleaner and more reliable across different platforms and devices.
<br>
and <img>
must be self-closed with a slash (<br />
, <img />
).
XHTML Example
This is an XHTML Page
Welcome to the world of XHTML!
While HTML and XHTML may look similar at first glance, they differ in several important ways:
This paragraph has no closing tag.
This paragraph has a proper closing tag.
<div>
and <DIV>
are treated the same.
Content goes here.
Content goes here.
<!DOCTYPE>
declaration is used to specify the version of HTML being used. HTML5 uses a simple doctype.<!DOCTYPE>
declaration and an XML namespace.
<img>
and <br>
do not require a closing slash.<br />
, <img />
).
xmlns
).
With the advent of HTML5, many features that XHTML brought to the table are now part of the standard HTML. HTML5 allows for more structured and semantic coding while maintaining backward compatibility with older HTML standards.
<article>
, <section>
, and <footer>
, which provide more semantic meaning.
HTML5 Example
HTML5 vs XHTML
HTML5 brings modern features with simpler syntax.
In conclusion, while both HTML and XHTML serve similar purposes in creating web pages, XHTML enforces stricter syntax rules and is more closely aligned with XML. HTML is more flexible and forgiving, especially with the advent of HTML5, which brings a balance between structure and flexibility.Happy coding !❤️