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5
Validating your code is very important. Part of building an effective website is making sure that it runs effectively on all web browsers, operating systems, etc. Also, one of the disadvantages of hand-coding HTML is that there is virtually no guarantee that the code you write is validated without special tools. Many of the programs we’ve discussed earlier in the book comes with a HTML and CSS validation plug-in, like Macromedia Dreamweaver, but there are tests you can run that will ensure that your website is effective is running HTML.
Before you begin, remember, under the tools menu, I have provided plenty of HTML and CSS applications that will help you format and optimize your code.
Writing Valid HTML and CSS Code
Writing valid code is essential to designing websites that look virtually the same on every platform, browser, or/and operating system. There are plenty of tools that will help you accomplish this, and before you begin generating other HTML files from your template, it needs to first be tested for validity. Here are some free tools that will do that for you:
Writing Code that is Section 508 Compliant
It is also important for your website to be Section 508 Compliant. Many webmasters do not have an understanding of what this compliancy is, but it is important for building websites that are accessible to everyone, regardless of their handicap. The blind, for example, use special readers to navigate the internet. If your website isn’t compatible with these readers, you are loosing an entire group of people to a competitor—just by not making it handicap accessible. It’s similar to having ramps for people in wheel chairs at a physical store; wouldn’t you do the same for your website, especially if it only takes a few minutes?
There are a few services that will do this for you, but something them (unfortunately) you have to pay for..
- WebXACT 508 Checker - 508 Checker is a free Section 508 checker. It will scan your URL for deficiencies and tell you what you’re doing wrong and what you can do to make it right
Writing Cross Browser-Friendly Code
Sometimes, you may write HTML and CSS code and it looks perfect in the web browser you’re using, but does it look good to everyone else? That is a question that you need to ask yourself when you’re designing your website. You should constantly switch back and forth between other web browsers including: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Browser, Safari, etc. These are the most popular browsers in the world, so it’s important to check these
browsers before finishing your templates:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mozilla FireFox
- Apple Safari
Article written by Andrew J. McClary, © 2008, All Rights Reserved.
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