Definition questions

[Andrew Cameron]

I'm getting confused by terms. A little help with some definitions, if you
will...

Can a page written in HTML conforming to the XHTML DTD be referred to as
both HTML and XHTML? Can you call it XML or is that just the concept upon
which this markup is built? Can you only call it XML if you have made your
own DTD and utilised it in some way (like a public "database" e.g. "My
Record Collection")? Does an XHTML page (if indeed I can all it that, based
on the previous questions...) have to include CSS? If not, is there a term
to describe an XHTML-conforming site that has CSS in it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[David Dorward]

Can a page written in HTML conforming to the XHTML DTD be referred to as
both HTML and XHTML?

No. An HTML document MUST start with an HTML Doctype, and an XHTML document
MUST start with an XHTML Doctype (or XML prolog followed by an XHTML
Doctype).

Can you call it XML or is that just the concept upon which this markup is
built?

An XHTML document is also an XML document. (Just as an HTML document is also
an SGML document).

Can you only call it XML if you have made your own DTD and utilised it in
some way (like a public "database" e.g. "My Record Collection")?

No. An XML document is an XML document no matter if it uses an XHTML doctype
or not.

Does an XHTML page (if indeed I can all it that, based on the previous
questions...) have to include CSS?

No, CSS is optional.

If not, is there a term to describe an XHTML-conforming site that has CSS
in it?

An XHTML document linked to (or including in CDATA) a cascading style
sheet..

 

[PTG]

XHTML can be referred to as HTML and XHTML.
XHTML is a form of XML.
XHTML doesn't have to include CSS at all.

Although VALID XHTML (as defined by the W3C) can include presentational tags
such as <b>, SEMANTIC XHTML shouldn't at all - HTML should be used to convey
meaning and CSS used for presentation. So if you're using tables only for
tabular data, <ol> to define ordered lists etc, then you can add 'semantic
HTML' to your definitions.

A great deal of people use the term 'HTML' loosly to describe HTML AND CSS.
For example, if you're an 'HTML Developer', a potential emplyer would most
likely read that as meaning HTML, CSS and possibly Javascript too.

PTG

 

[David Dorward]

PTG top posted the following (and should read:
http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?How_to_post):

XHTML can be referred to as HTML and XHTML.

Technically speaking it can't.

XHTML is a form of XML.

Kinda. It would be more accurate to say that its an application of XML.

XHTML doesn't have to include CSS at all.
True

Although VALID XHTML (as defined by the W3C) can include presentational
tags such as <b>, SEMANTIC XHTML shouldn't at all - HTML should be used to
convey meaning and CSS used for presentation. So if you're using tables
only for tabular data, <ol> to define ordered lists etc, then you can add
'semantic HTML' to your definitions.

But a document can include only semantic XHTML with no styling information
at all.

 

[PTG]

PTG top posted the following (and should read:
http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?How_to_post):

My apologies. I'm new to newsgroups.

Technically speaking it can't.

Logically speaking it can. eXtensible HTML is HTML just as a green banana is
a banana.
I am not saying W3C XHTML 1 can be referred to as W3C HTML 4 or something so
specific, simply that XHTML is a HyperText Markup Language.

Kinda. It would be more accurate to say that its an application of XML.

Semantics, but I should have been clearer.

But a document can include only semantic XHTML with no styling information
at all.

I don't quite understand this point. Are you saying that if you have
semantic XHTML you can't use style sheets?
Semantic HTML, indeed, should not use tags that suggest presentational style
(such as <b>) and specific tags should be used to define specific elements
that reflect their meaning.


PTG

 

[Chris Morris]

I don't quite understand this point. Are you saying that if you have
semantic XHTML you can't use style sheets?

Merely that semantic (X)HTML _need not_ use style sheets and _should
not_ (must not, preferably) rely on them being interpreted if it does.

 

[David Dorward]

I don't quite understand this point. Are you saying that if you have
semantic XHTML you can't use style sheets?

I said "can include only" not "must include only". An XHTML document (and an
HTML document) may optionally be used with a style sheet.

 

[PTG]

I said "can include only" not "must include only". An XHTML document (and an
HTML document) may optionally be used with a style sheet.

Yes, which was a previous point we both agree on.

I think I understand what you're saying now, but it doesn't relate to the
original point, which was that stying information (as in presentational
tags) MUST not be used in semantic HTML - that's the whole point - you use
tags to apply MEANING to an element.