Using HTML: The Definitive Guide (A nutshell handbook) - Softcover

Kennedy; Musciano

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565921755 ISBN 13: 9781565921757

Publisher: O'Reilly Media, 1996

Synopsis

Learning HTML is like learning any new language, computer or human. Most students first immerse themselves in examples. Studying others is a natural way to learn, making learning easy and fun. Imitation can take you only so far, though. Examples can be both good and bad. Learning by example will help you talk the talk, but not walk the walk.Computer-based languages are precise. You've got to get the HTML syntax correct, or it just won't work. And, there is the problem of "standards." Committees of academics and industry experts try to define the proper syntax and usage of a computer language like HTML. The problem is that HTML browser manufacturers like Netscape Communications choose what parts of the standard they will use, and which parts they'll ignore. They even make up their own parts, which may eventually become standards.The better way to become HTML fluent is through a comprehensive language reference, a resource that covers the language syntax, semantics, and variations in detail and helps you distinguish between good and bad usage.HTML: The Definitive Guide helps you become fluent in HTML, fully versed in the language's syntax, semantics, and elements of style. The book covers the most up-to-date version of the HTML standard, plus all the common extensions and, in particular, Netscape extensions. The authors cover each and every element of the currently accepted version of the language in detail, explaining how each element works and how it interacts with all the other elements. They've also included a style guide that helps you decide how to best use HTML to accomplish a variety of tasks, from simple online documentation to complex marketing and sales presentations.With a practical, hands-on style, this book helps you to create truly effective Web pages and to master advanced features, such as tables and equations. HTML: The Definitive Guide shows you how to:

• Insert images and other multimedia elements
• Create effective links and searchable documents
• Create effective forms with basic forms elements such as buttons, checkboxes, and radio buttons
• Use Netscape extensions, including improved horizontal rules, image layout, indexed documents, line breaking, and font handling
• Create effective Netscape tables
• Create dynamic documents with Server Push and Client Pull

About this title

Review

HTML is a familiar FLA (four letter acronym) but what about XHTML? Is it merely a typographical error or simply XML by another name? The readable preface to this book puts us right and there is more detail in Chapter 1 which is also an interesting potted history of the web and web technologies.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is for controlling layout and specifying hypertext links for documents viewed with a browser. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) controls its standardisation. XML (Extensible Markup Language), also defined by the W3C, is a standard that allows structured data to be presented in a standard way that it can be understood by many different technologies, for example, relational database engines and web browsers. Use of XML for the exchange of data between businesses on the Internet is increasing rapidly. Now, finally, comes XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language), which is HTML reformulated to bring it into line with the XML standard.

The authors try to instil good habits and style considerations, as well as an appreciation of kumquats (a recurrent theme in the examples). They revile use of the blink tag extension that causes text to oscillate between two colour states and blink, constantly, irritatingly and advocate visiting a wide range of Web sites to learn what works and what doesn't.

The comprehensive coverage of the topic is divided into chapters like Text Basics, Formatted Lists, Forms, Frames and Executable Content. HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide is a feature-driven guide to what the languages can do rather than a guide to producing a finished item, but it should help a beginner to make good progress nevertheless, and is written in an approachable style. --Mark Whitehorn

Review

A library that circulates this book may soon find itself
charging a lost item fee, because it can become an
indispensable reference in a short period of time. -- Molly Ives Brower, Internet References Services Quarterly, Vol 6, No 1, 2001

In-depth descriptions of the behavior of every HTML tag on every major browser and platform, plus enough dry humour to make the book a pleasure to read. -- Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, April 23, 2002

It is a readable, fast moving and a compact book. Those of us with the need for a good reference book certainly appreciate this one. -- Miguel A Sepulveda, linuxfocus.org, Jan 2001

Those of us with the need for a good reference book certainly appreciate this one. -- Miguel Sepulveda, LinuxFocus.org, April 2002

When they say "definitive" they're not kidding. Definitive is defined as "clearly defined or formulated" and that's just what this is. -- Linda Roeder, Personal Web Pages, About.com

Edition details

• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1565921755
• ISBN 13: 9781565921757
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 350