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HTML: Definitive Guide (Paperback)

by Chuck Musciano (Author), Bill Kennedy (Author, Editor)

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc, USA; 3rd Revised edition edition (Aug 1998)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1565924924
ISBN-13: 978-1565924925
Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 18.3 x 3 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 912,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

HTML is a familiar FLA (four letter acronym) but what about XHTML? Is it merely a typographical error or simply XML by another name? The readable preface to this book puts us right and there is more detail in Chapter 1 which is also an interesting potted history of the web and web technologies.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is for controlling layout and specifying hypertext links for documents viewed with a browser. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) controls its standardisation. XML (Extensible Markup Language), also defined by the W3C, is a standard that allows structured data to be presented in a standard way that it can be understood by many different technologies, for example, relational database engines and web browsers. Use of XML for the exchange of data between businesses on the Internet is increasing rapidly. Now, finally, comes XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language), which is HTML reformulated to bring it into line with the XML standard.

The authors try to instil good habits and style considerations, as well as an appreciation of kumquats (a recurrent theme in the examples). They revile use of the blink tag extension that causes text to oscillate between two colour states and blink, constantly, irritatingly and advocate visiting a wide range of Web sites to learn what works and what doesn't.

The comprehensive coverage of the topic is divided into chapters like Text Basics, Formatted Lists, Forms, Frames and Executable Content. HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide is a feature-driven guide to what the languages can do rather than a guide to producing a finished item, but it should help a beginner to make good progress nevertheless, and is written in an approachable style. --Mark Whitehorn --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Major Kearny, Book News, Jan 2003

Another essential reference...especially recommended to those wanting to make the transition to XHTML. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

24 Reviews

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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4.6 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reference rather than a tutorial, 10 Nov 2004

By	"jonesgth" - See all my reviews

This review is from: HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide (HTML & XHTML: Definitive Guide) (Paperback)

If you need a handy HTML or XHTML reference, then this is the book for you. If you are a complete novice, then you need to read another book, such as 'Learning Web Design' by Jennifer Niederst (yet another O'Reilly book) first.

Did I say this was just a reference? Well, this is untrue. If you have some experience this book cuts nicely through the jargon and dogma and explains how an HTML document is structured, and then describes in detail all the elements (tags) in the structure. The book is organised in such a way that the HTML Quick Reference at the back of the book is cross-referenced to the main text down to the exact page (as is the CSS Quick Reference).

When it comes to the issues about standards and deprecated attributes and tags in the HTML 4.01 standard, Musciano and Kennedy are pragmatic and practical, rather than treating this as some form of religious debate. They are realistic enough to suggest that you should adhere to the standards wherever possible, but be prepared to make concessions where otherwise you would not be able to achieve what you want. There is also some good discussion on browser take up of CSS 1 and CSS 2.1.

The only beef I have is that in Chapter 6, Links and Webs, the explanations of URLs and of TCP/IP port numbers are not as good as they could be. It seems the writers have sacrificed clarity for brevity. Be that as it may, I have found this book invaluable and use it on a daily basis.

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Book in a web page designer's tool box, 12 Jul 2001

By	lee_steadman@hotmail.com (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HTML and XHTML: The Definitive Guide (Definitive Guides) (Paperback)

This book couldn't have been more perfect for me. I was on the brink of understanding HTML in depth before buying this book. After reading I am now more fluent and more confident in what I use in my pages. I have a more wide spread knowledge of what I can use in my pages with a better understanding of the standards that uniform the web. I am now creating pages to standards - not to browsers.

This book has given me a very opening and logical insight into XHTML and XML.

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20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A non-patronizing guide to modern html, 4 Sep 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: HTML and XHTML: The Definitive Guide (Definitive Guides) (Paperback)

"HTML and XHTML: the definitive guide" will give you a thorough grounding in creating web pages. XHTML, by the way, is just HTML5 - the more mature version of the whizzy dynamic HTML4.

This book does not patronize - not that it's not "for idiots". It doesn't have cartoons, or annoying icons saying "kule stuff" either.

What it does do is to take you through the process of creating websites - from your first steps through to the deep end of HTML. Each element is detailed with sufficient examples; nothing is glossed over. Particular strengths are

are the trickier areas - its treatment of forms, GET and POST, frames, CSS and tables are very clear.

The book is careful to delineate what it deals with and what it doesn't. Although it touches upon Java, Javascript, Applets and server technology, these tend to be pointers to the reader - saying what the various things do, evaluating the options and pointing you to an O'Reilly book to buy!

"Kule stuff" includes the chapter on XML (should be on your resume!), "tips, tricks and hacks", the tag reference summary and some rather excellent history on the internet and all the various parties that try and work together to make it work. It's a neat book - personally, I'm an XML-type who's having to reverse-engineer my know-how down to HTML and it hits the mark for me!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal Refernce Manual
I am an occasional HTMLer so I find this book very useful as a reference manual and use it in conjunction with the JavaScript Definitive Guide by David Flanagan

Published 1 month ago by Kip Cymru

3.0 out of 5 stars A good reference let down by the index
This is an excellent introduction to HTML 4.01. However, the XHTML 1.0 elements are less well covered and XHTML 1.1 is mentioned only in a few paragraphs. Read more

Published 19 months ago by D. Knox

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for (real) web designers
I was completely new to HTML, XHTML and WYSIWYG editors, and this book was recommended to me as the best place to start. Read more

Published on 13 May 2003 by Anne Greenacre

2.0 out of 5 stars DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! All theory, No practical.
I was looking for a very practical HTML book so I could start writing web-pages immediately, and after reading all of the raving reviews about O'Reily books I thought that this... Read more

Published on 3 Jun 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive doesn't even begin to describe this book
After searching through various books and online resources I've not found a better target for my HTML queeries. Read more

Published on 12 Mar 2001 by Neil Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars The best HTML reference I have found
OK, it's not a teaching book. It's not meant to be, it's an O'Reilly book. They have sensible titles like "Learning (subject)" on their teaching books. Read more

Published on 7 Nov 2000 by Dewi Morgan

3.0 out of 5 stars Purely a reference book
Not one for beginners - see Dick Olivers HTML in 24 hours. While this book is pretty comprehensive and tells you all you need as a reference, dont try using it as a teaching guide... Read more

Published on 29 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars very impressive!
This book has been constantly sat wide open on my desk; it's great! I'm a complete beginner at HTML but I found this book easy to read and very understandable. Read more

Published on 20 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars >>> The only HTML book you need <<<
After the first read, it seems most reference books spend a lot of their time on the shelf. Not this one! It spends a lot of time on my desk, open. Read more

Published on 6 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars When its says definitive, it means it
This book is good for the experienced and beginner alike. I'm quite familiar with HTML, but still found sections of interest and always keep it on hand for reference, if only for... Read more

Published on 31 May 2000 by lee_hilton_@hotmail.com

› See all 24 customer reviews...

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