HTML vs. XHTMLBUED 337

XHTML

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language

A successor to HTML 4.01

XML-compliant

W3C is improving and expanding

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language

Can handle coding errors and quirks

Integrates markup features toward modern Web usage

W3C is improving and expanding

DifferencesAspect HTML XHTML

Tag Nesting May be closed out of order

Must be closed in the order opened

Tag Case May be written in upper or lower case

Must be written in lower case

Tag Closure May be omitted for some elements

Must be matched with closing tags

Attribute-Value Pairs May occur without attribute name

Attribute-value pair required

Empty Elements Do not need to be closed Must be closed

Script and Style Elements

May be placed within quotes

Must be in separate documents and lined to XHTML document

Character Codes for Special Characters Codes recommended Codes required

Comparing HTML & XHTML

Parallel languages

W3C improving and expanding both

User preference depending on specific projects

Each has similar, distinct applications