Valid XHTML Markup and CSS

Valid XHTML markup and CSS are ever increasingly becoming more obviously important to web design and development. As new W3C compliant user agents, web software applications, and search engine algorithms come along, it is more important than ever to produce standards based, W3C valid XHTML and CSS.

Valid XHTML for SEO

Clean and optimized valid XHTML will perform better in the interest of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Well-formed and valid XHTML markup will always outperform poorly written, old style tables sites in HTML 4.01.

By using valid CSS and table-free XHTML, we have much more control over positioning and content flow. By validating our markup and optimizing extraneous code, we create a clear path to our SEO rich content, giving us an edge in search engine indexing.

Valid XHTML for Accessibility

Clean and valid XHTML is essential in the interest of web accessibility conformance. The WAI stresses the use of valid markup and CSS in our web documents. For the widest compatibility across all platforms, user agents, small devices, screen readers, and future devices, it is to our benefit to author only valid markup and CSS.

Not-for-profit 508 and 501 organizations in the U.S. are required as part of the condition of their non-profit status to conform with the WAI. The first rule of conformance is that the web documents comply with W3C recommendations… in other words, all non-profit organization websites in this country are required to validate XHTML, HTML, and CSS.

Valid XHTML for Performance

Properly optimized and compliant XHTML will perform best for our websites. Nothing is sleeker or slicker than well-formed and valid XHTML for our site work and projects.

Valid XHTML for Forward Compatibility

With new browser makers, and new browser versions on the near horizon, it is of the utmost importance that we use only valid XHTML in the interest of forward compatibility. Developers have been calling for and demanding standards based browsers, the browser makers have heard our call. Every day that passes will bring us closer and closer to compliancy among all of the browsers. In order to prepare for this fully valid world, our site work must be valid markup and CSS if we expect it not to break in present and future user agents.

Valid XHTML for Troubleshooting

No matter what, when troubleshooting render issues, it is always beneficial to ascertain that our XHTML markup will validate. Many times, just by bringing our documents to validation standards, we solve a number of issues. Render issues across the numerous user agents is a chore enough, without adding to the problem by ignoring the standards.

Valid XHTML for Professionalism

Knowing that each and every web page we create is valid XHTML is a credential of its own. Every time we post an example to our peers, or they covertly run the validation test on our work, it reflects well on our own skills when our work consistently validates. Produce valid XHTML and CSS for every document we create, and we demonstrate skills that elude about 97% of the “web designers” out there in the market today. Valid XHTML publicly demonstrates our skill and ability, our understanding of markup, and exposes this skill for all to see.

Valid XHTML Feels Good

There is quite a sense of satisfaction when we create a brand new web document, publish it right from our local machines, and it produces a Beautiful Green Valid XHTML page at the W3C immediately. It feels good to run the validation test on our XHTML immediately on publication and have it return with a clean bill of W3C health.

That bright green banner proclaiming to the entire world,

This Page Is Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict!

…is our own personal reward for learning our craft properly and a silent pat-on-the-back for a job well done.