HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language) are two markup languages that are used to create web pages. Both languages have a common core of syntax and tags, but they also have some significant differences. In this article, we will explore the differences between HTML and XHTML.
1. Syntax
The most notable difference between HTML and XHTML is their syntax. HTML uses a loose syntax that allows for common mistakes such as missing closing tags, attributes without values, and uppercase element and attributes names. XHTML, on the other hand, has a more strict and rigid syntax, which means that all elements must be well-formed and properly closed.
For example, in HTML, an image tag may look like this:
Code
<img src="path/to/image.jpg" alt="Image description">In XHTML, the same tag would be written like this:
Code
<img src="path/to/image.jpg" alt="Image description" />Note that in XHTML, the self-closing /> is required at the end of the image tag.
2. Parsing
Another difference between HTML and XHTML is the way they are parsed by web browsers. HTML is parsed more leniently which means that if there are errors in the code, the browser may still be able to render the page. On the other hand, XHTML requires perfectly formed code, and if there are errors, the browser will not render the page.
3. Browser Support
HTML is more widely supported by web browsers than XHTML. Although most modern browsers support both markup languages, some older browsers may not support XHTML. This means that it is necessary to use a proper DOCTYPE declaration to indicate the document type, otherwise, the browser will fall back to HTML.
4. Future of Markup
XHTML was originally intended to replace HTML, but it did not gain widespread adoption, and HTML remains the preferred markup language for most web developers. HTML5, the latest version of HTML, has evolved to include many of the features found in XHTML, such as stricter syntax and support for XML-style parsing.
Conclusion
In summary, HTML and XHTML are two different markup languages with distinct syntax and parsing rules. HTML is more lenient and widely supported by web browsers, while XHTML is more rigid and requires perfect code to work properly. While XHTML was expected to overtake HTML, it was never widely adopted and HTML remains the preferred markup language. However, HTML has evolved to include many of the features of XHTML, making it a more robust and flexible option for modern web development.
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