This is next article to earlier article on "HTML 5 primer" and goes a step ahead to distill it little further.
Objective
To know more about HTML 5 and explore the browser’s readiness for HTML 5.
Introduction
We discussed the W3C, history of HTML version, relevant standards and HTML 5 addenda to its prior version and also the learning needed from the perspective of programmers in the previous article named “HTML 5 Primer” (http://www.dotnetfunda.com/articles/article1434-html-5-primer-.aspx).
In this article we would be going a step ahead to understand a little more and also have an idea of actions by technology companies regarding embracing the standard.
HTML 5 is humongous and hence it’s difficult to understand in entirety. It means different things for different people for some it’s just next version of HTML which a programmer doesn’t have to care about, for some it’s just addition of few tags. This all is not entirely true but the fact is that the HTML5 is a game changing standard and programmer, designers would need to know a lot more about it to continue surviving and at the same time it would be exciting too to grasp it.
HTML 5, essentially comprises of HTML, CSS (3.0), scripting (JavaScript and JQuery), DOM and XML.
Description
As mentioned in the last article, HTML 5 is implemented in IE 8 but according to Microsoft, they say as strong HTML 5 support. This means that it supports the HTML 5 but it may not have full implementation. But it would be a different story with IE 9. In Microsoft’s own words “HTML5 is at the center of Internet Explorer 9, with extensive support for web standards like HTML5, CSS3, Canvas, SVG, and more, you've got more tools to build a more beautiful web.”
For quick reference the addenda in HTML is re-iterated as below
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HTML 5 Addenda |
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Ø Detailed parsing rules (including "error handling") for media type text/html
Ø Defines a text/html-sandboxed media type
Ø XML documents must be served with an XML media type such as application/xhtml+xml or application/xml
Ø The HTML syntax of HTML5 allows for MathML and SVG elements to be used inside a document
Ø Many new elements specifically video, audio, track, embed, mark
Ø The input element is extended to have different types tel, search, url, email , datetime ,date, month ,week, time, datetime-local, number, range, color.
Ø New attributes like media, audio etc for existing elements
Ø Introduces a number of APIs that help in creating Web applications - An API
· for playing of video and audio which can be used with the new video and audio elements,
· that enables offline Web applications.
· that allows a Web application to register itself for certain protocols or media types.
· Editing API in combination with a new global contenteditable attribute.
· Drag & drop API in combination with a draggable attribute.
· Extension to HTML document and HTMLElements |
The term “Site ready HTML 5” is used to denote HTML 5 technologies are supported by the internet explorers. The technologies like Web storage, new tags, graphics, audio, video and CSS 3.0 pertains to these site ready HTML 5 features,
In addition to this, Microsoft is conducting the platform reviews for IE 9 and also the progress of this browser can be followed.
http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/
The more information about IE 9 is available at following URL.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740469
Google has also launched the support for HTML 5. For more information refer
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/
Developer tools:
As usual Microsoft in front runner in providing the tools support for HTML 5 too.
With the latest service pack (SP1) for visual studio 2010, it offers the functionality of validation in accordance with HTML 5 standards; also the intellisense is also provided too making the programmer’s job easy.
Concerns:
The real challenge is the acceptance of all major browsers. Though all browsers eventually would have complete support, there would be lot of disparity in the acceptance of HTML 5 features and their readiness. This would definitely remind us of cross browser issues but one has to live with it anyway.
Summary & Conclusion
HTML 5 has arrived and it’s going to last. As this standard is mooted by W3C and many of technology companies are contributing and helping build this standard, HTML 5 is going to become de facto.
HTML 5 is not just about the addition of few tags but it has redefined the whole paradigm of functionalities and consequently the browser development. Microsoft known for their IDE and toolset is equipped with validation, intellisense, document schema in compliance of HTML 5. The IE 9 is supposedly supports fully to HTML 5.
The inference is “Web is going to be a lot different than it is today”, so get ready and start learning.
Reference
http://www.w3.org/TR/html5-diff/
http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/