HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, 6th Edition

XHTML 1.1

In May 2001, the W3C released an updated the XHTML standard, XHTML 1.1. While most standards expand upon their previous versions, XHTML 1.1 takes the unusual step of defining a more restrictive version of XHTML. If you think of XHTML 1.0 as unwieldy, picky, and time consuming, you’ll find XHTML 1.1 even more so. In our opinion, XHTML 1.1 is an example of the standards process taken to absurd levels, defining a standard that may be academically pure but is essentially unusable.

Differences in XHTML 1.1

XHTML 1.1 begins with the XHTML 1.0 strict DTD and makes a few modifications. By supporting only the strict version of XHTML 1.0, version 1.1 eliminates all deprecated elements and all browser extensions still in common use on the Web. It also makes the following minor changes:

• The lang attribute has been removed from every element. Instead, authors should use the xml:lang attribute.

• The name attribute has been removed from the <a> and <map> elements. Authors should use the id attribute in its place.

Finally, the XHTML 1.1 standard defines a new set of elements that implement a typographic feature known as ruby text. Ruby text is short runs of text placed alongside the base text; it is often used to annotate the text or to indicate pronunciation. Ruby text has its roots in East Asian documents, particularly Chinese schoolbooks and Japanese books and magazines. Ruby text is typically displayed in a smaller font^[*] than the base text and follows certain alignment rules to ensure ...