Semantic markup

[Vivian Stevenson]

Does anyone know about semantic markup, and its implications for the future of search?

[drhowarddrfine]

Semantic markup's future and importance started 10 years ago.

[swa66]

Only 10 years ?

Strange, I thought what killed semantic markup were <table> and <font> - none of those were around back in the early 90s when HTML was introduced.

[Samizdata]

I thought what killed semantic markup were <table> and <font>

While I can see what you are getting at, I would have thought that the <table> tag was perfectly good semantics when used for tabular data.

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[lucy24]

when used for tabular data

Terrific. Now all we have to do is get everyone to agree on what "tabular data" is.

[swa66]

when used for tabular data

Terrific. Now all we have to do is get everyone to agree on what "tabular data" is.

LOL! So that's how it got started: those that considered everything to be tabular data, as well as nested tables.

[buckworks]

RECOMMENDATION: Study the fifth post in this thread, 599445 by "Claus":

[webmasterworld.com...]

That post by Claus Schmidt did more to help me understand the value of well-structured semantic markup than anything else I've ever read. Years later I am still grateful to him for writing it!

[lucy24]

This one? ;)

[webmasterworld.com...]

(Takes me about three tries every time because I've got an inexplicable mental block on the difference between a question mark and an ampersand.) Unless you're one of the people who reacts badly to that shade of yellow...

A web site ("book") about "horses, printers, and railroads" will most likely not be thought of as an authority on any of these issues by any potential reader.

Y'know, there's a certain personality type that views statements like that as a challenge...

Cruddy code implies authentic grassroots origins

Heh. To me it says WYSIWYG editor. ::snrk::

btw, I was serious about "tabular data". To me, f'rinstance, it means: There is a direct relationship between the item on the left and the item on the right. To the guy in the next booth it may mean: numerical values and nothing else, ever.

[Samizdata]

Terrific. Now all we have to do is get everyone to agree on what "tabular data" is.

The only people who need to agree are those who write the HTML specification:

The HTML table model allows authors to arrange data -- text, preformatted text, images, links, forms, form fields, other tables, etc. -- into rows and columns of cells... Tables should not be used purely as a means to layout document content as this may present problems when rendering to non-visual media.

Source: [w3.org...]

The <table> did not "kill" semantic markup as suggested, but is in fact a part of it:

The objective of this technique is to mark up the structure of the Web content using the appropriate semantic elements. In other words, the elements are used according to their meaning, not because of the way they appear visually.

Using the appropriate semantic elements will make sure the structure is available to the user agent. This involves explicitly indicating the role that different units have in understanding the meaning of the content. The nature of a piece of content as a paragraph, header, emphasized text, table, etc. can all be indicated in this way.

Source: [w3.org...]

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[drhowarddrfine]

I'm just going to blurt something out cause I don't have time.

The modern web has moved to the point where semantics have far more importance than ever before. The great thing about the new HTML5 spec is there is a heavier emphasis on structure than ever before and, if someone doesn't want to get with that, they will be left in the dust.

The reason I don't have time is I have a brand new site going online next Thursday and I'm late. Responsive. Fully HTML5. Mobile first. Lots of work and I'm loving it.