XHTML Compliance

What is XHTML compliance?

XHTML stands for Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. It is a language for creating web pages and is very similar to HTML, which you may already be familiar with. The main difference is that XHTML follows stricter rules, making it work more consistently and reliably across different browsers and devices.When a website is XHTML compliant, it means that the code used to create the website follows these strict rules. This ensures that the website works better, looks good and is accessible to everyone, regardless of which browser or device they are using.

Why is XHTML compliance important?

1. Cross Browser CompatibilityXHTML compliance ensures that your website looks and works the same in different browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari. This is important because not everyone uses the same browser, and you want your website to be accessible to as many people as possible.
2. Better accessibilityBy conforming to XHTML standards, your website will be more accessible to people with disabilities. XHTML compliance often means better support for screen readers and other assistive technologies.
3. Easier maintenanceXHTML compliant code is clean and well structured. This makes it easier to maintain, update or troubleshoot your website in the future.
4. Future proofWeb standards evolve over time, and XHTML compliance helps ensure that your website remains compatible with future browsers and devices.

How does TYPO3 handle XHTML compliance?

TYPO3 is a powerful content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites. One advantage of TYPO3 is its flexibility and the ability to ensure that your website is XHTML compliant.

This is how TYPO3 supports XHTML conformity:

• Strict outputTYPO3 can be configured to generate XHTML compliant code. This means that the HTML code of your TYPO3 website follows the strict XHTML rules.
• Validation toolsTYPO3 offers tools and extensions to help you check your website's code for XHTML compliance. These tools can scan your website and point out problems that need to be fixed.
• TemplatesTYPO3 allows you to use XHTML compliant templates for your website. These templates are already created with XHTML compliance in mind, so you don't have to worry about writing the code yourself.

Steps to ensure XHTML compliance in TYPO3

• Select XHTML compliant templatesStart with templates that are already XHTML compliant. This saves time and ensures that your website is compliant from the start.
• Validate your code: Use the validation tools of TYPO3to check the code of your website. If there are any issues, the tools will highlight them so you can make the necessary corrections.
• Follow best practicesFollow best practices for XHTML compliance when adding content or making changes to your TYPO3 website. This includes closing all tags correctly, using lowercase for all HTML elements and nesting elements correctly.
• Regular checksXHTML compliance is not a one-time task. Check your website regularly to ensure that new content or updates have not introduced any problems.

Conclusion

XHTML compliance is an important aspect of web development that ensures your website is accessible, maintainable and future-proof. TYPO3 offers several features and tools to help you achieve and maintain XHTML compliance.