Document Structure

  • Introduction
  • Separate content and presentation: Content that is encoded without display requirements can be accessed by any software or device. Use HTML documents for content, and CSS for presentation.
  • Mark up document structure: Semantic markup produces content that can be read and interpreted by software. When encoding content, tag the meaning of document elements using structural HTML.
  • Use style sheets for presentation: Style sheets provide control and flexibility for designers and users. Use style sheets to control the presentation of Web pages.
  • Design pages that function without style sheets: Some users do not access styles. Design pages that are comprehensible and usable without style sheet formatting.
  • Write valid code: Valid code is essential to solid document structure. Identify document type and validate pages to ensure quality and compatibility.
  • Use linked style sheets: Linked style sheets promote design consistency and produce faster downloads. Include style information in a linked style sheet rather than on each Web page.