Semantic HTML

The case for semantic HTML

It is easy to create HTML that works, but current best practice suggests that creating valid and Semantic HTML is an important goal for various reasons including usability and accessibility.

Unfortunately, while validation is a relatively easy task to understand and achieve, creating semantically correct HTML is a lot more subjective and open to debate.

Examples for semantic HTML

Here are some examples of non-semantic HTML taken from the current Moodle markup (layout and styling is done with CSS which isn't shown here).

List instead of DIVs

BAD:


 <a href="#" name="d16">
   <img id="vh_div16indicator" src="pix/closed.gif" alt="Closed folder">
     Security
 </a>

GOOD:

<a href="#">Security</a>

(Example taken from Moodle's Site Administration block.)

Indentation without spacer.gif

BAD:


<tbody>
</tbody>


     <img class="spacer" src="pix/spacer.gif" alt="" height="10" width="20">
     




     <a href="/course/category.php?id=3">Quizzes</a>


1

GOOD:


<a href="/course/category.php?id=3">Quizzes</a>1

(Example from Moodle's Course Category list.)

For more examples how to make Moodle HTML more semantic you might have a look at this work in progress: Frank Ralf/Semantic HTML1.

Further resources

Online:

Books:

Designing with Web Standards, 2nd ed. by Jeffrey Zeldman - This book is the single most useful source for getting you on track for writing semantic code. Highly recommended!

Documentation