What does it mean to have a validated website?

A validated website can refer to HTML/XHTML or CSS. To construct a validated website, a website designer will first have to determine which doctype to use. This is solely up to the designer and how the website will function. Then he will need to keep within the guidelines of the doctype.

Benefits of a Validated Website

The benefits of having a validated website are as follows:

  • Desired design effect
  • Efficient functionality
  • Cross-browser compatible
  • Search Engine Friendly

HTML STRICT DOCTYPE

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd”>

The HTML Strict doctype is for websites that rely more on structure. It doesn’t allow for deprecated tags or elements and requires that the website designer stick to up-to-date code. It relies more on CSS to put together the website’s appearance.

HTML TRANSITIONAL DOCTYPE

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd”>

Transitional allows for depreciated elements to be used. For example, if is no longer the standard method to set the font size, Transitional will still allow for it. However, the catch with using the transitional doctype is that the website may not function or have the same desired look when using different browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox). However, being validated still means efficient cross-browser functionality.

MORE DOCTYPES

There are plenty of other doctypes, but understanding the difference between a transitional doctype and a strict doctype is important. Another thing to note is that a website designer can get a website to look exactly the same using the transitional or the strict doctypes. So what’s the point? Well, basically it all stems down to sticking to one form of coding ensure that a website is properly structured.

VALIDATED CSS WEBSITE

CSS is the style associated to a web page all in a separate file. There are guidelines to follow, like the doctypes, and will ensure a clean, consistent website design that delivers the desired effect and proper functionality.

This article was written by Daniel Losada.