1. Chapter 1 Understanding the Web Design Environment
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

2. Objectives Describe the current state of HTML Move from HTML to XHTML
Understand variables in the Web design environment
Describe browser compatibility issues
Consider connection speed differences
Code for multiple screen resolutions
Address operating system issues
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

3. HTML: Then and Now
HTML is an application of the Standard Generalized Markup Language
Intended to represent simple document structure
Uses hypertext to link related topics
Designed for use over the Internet
The Web has outgrown the capabilities of HTML
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

4. The Limitations of HTML
A markup language is a structured language that lets you identify common sections of a document such as headings, paragraphs, and lists
An HTML file includes text and HTML markup elements
The browser interprets the HTML markup elements and displays the results, hiding the actual markup tags from the user
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

5. The Limitations of HTML
HTML is an open, non-proprietary, cross-platform compatible language
HTML is not a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) layout tool
HTML was intended only to express logical document structure, not display characteristics
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

6. The Need for Style Sheets
Style sheets let you separate display information from content
Separating display information lets you repurpose your content for multiple destinations
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

7. Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

8. The Need for Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a powerful display language for HTML
CSS lets you state style rules in an external style sheet that is linked to every page on a Web site
CSS lets you easily control the display characteristics of your Web site
Newer browsers offer more complete CSS support
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

9. Benefits of Moving to XHTML
XHTML is a reformulation of HTML 4.01 in XML
Brings data-handling benefits of XML to HTML
Style sheets are required
Stricter syntax rules
3 “flavors”: Strict, Transitional, Frameset
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

10. XHTML Syntax Rules Documents must be well-formed
Elements must nest correctly
XML is case-sensitive
End tags are required
Empty elements are signified by a closing slash
Attribute values must be quoted
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

11. Migrating from HTML to XHTML
Evaluate existing code
Evaluate existing display information
Create coding conventions
Start using CSS
Test for backward compatibility
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

12. Choosing an HTML Editor
As with the browsers, authoring packages interpret tags based on their own built-in logic. Therefore, a page that you create in an editing package may look quite different in the editing interface than it does in a browser.
You’ll probably end up working with a combination of tools to create your finished pages
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

13. Choosing an HTML Editor
You can create or generate HTML code to build Web pages in many ways
Many sites on the Web are coded using simple text editing tools such as Notepad
Many different HTML editing programs are available
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

14. Variables in the Web Design Environment
Browser compatibility
Connection speed
Screen resolution
Operating system
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

15. Browser Compatibility Issues
One of the greatest challenges facing HTML authors is designing pages that display properly in multiple browsers
Every browser contains a program called a parser that interprets the markup tags in an HTML file and displays the results in the canvas area of the browser interface
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

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17. Browser Compatibility Issues
The logic for interpreting the HTML tags is different in every browser, resulting in varying interpretations of the way the HTML file is displayed
Although it’s a good idea to test with the latest browsers, it’s also prudent to test your work in older browsers as well
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

18. Creating Cross-Browser Compatible Pages
Lowest common denominator coding - use an older version of HTML to ensure portability
Cutting-edge coding - push the medium forward by coding to the latest standard and using the latest enhancements
Browser-specific coding - specify a particular brand and version of browser to access the site
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

19. Solving the Browser Dilemma
You must test your work in as many browsers as possible during and at the end of the development process to make sure that your pages will render properly
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

20. Considering Connection Speed Differences
It will still be awhile before most computer users have fast access to the Web
Less than 20% of American households have access to cable modems
Only 5-10% of all households have access to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

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22. Bandwidth Concerns
If your pages download slowly, your users will probably click to go to another site before they see your content
Most users will simply not wait longer than 20 seconds for a page to load
The size and number of graphics on your Web pages influence the speed at which your pages display
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

23. Testing for Download Times
Test your site at different connection speeds
Test your site as if you were a user visiting for the first time. This is when users experience the greatest download times.
Clear your cache of the files and images that the browser has stored
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

24. Working with the Cache to Improve Download Time
The cache is the temporary storage area for Web pages and images
The browser always tries to load images and files from the cache
Make use of the cache by reusing images as much as possible
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

25. Coding for Multiple Screen Resolutions
A computer monitor’s screen resolution is the horizontal and vertical width and height of the computer screen in pixels
The two most common screen resolutions (traditionally expressed as width x height) are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768
User screen resolution is a factor over which you have no control
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

26. Fixed Design
As the screen resolution changes, the content remains aligned to the left side of the page
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

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29. Flexible Design
As the screen resolution changes, the content expands to accommodate the varying screen width
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

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32. Centered Design
As the screen resolution changes, the Web page stays centered in the browser window, splitting the remaining space into equal amounts on the left and right side of the browser window.
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

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35. Operating System Issues
Monitors and display software
Browser versions
Font choices
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

36. Summary Use Cascading Style Sheets
Decide whether to code to the XHTML standard.
Choose the type of editing tool you will use to create your code
Choose the suite of browsers you will use to test your site
Decide how browser-specific your site will be. Your goal is to create a site that is widely accessible to multiple browsers.
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition

37. Summary Resolve to continually test your work as you build your site
Test with multiple browsers, at different screen resolutions, and at different connection speeds
If you can, try to view your site on multiple platforms such as PC and Macintosh as well
Principles of Web Design, Third Edition