Tuesday, August 21, 2007

What Is W3C Compliance?

The W3C is the World Wide Web Consortium and since 1994 the W3C has provided the guidelines by which websites and web pages should be structured and created. The rules they outline are based on the best practices and while websites don't have to comply to be viewed correctly in Internet Explorer and other popular browsers that cater to incorrect design practices, there are a number of compelling reasons to ensure that you or your designer ensure that the W3C guidelines are followed and that your site is brought into compliance.

http://validator.w3.org/
This is the W3C Markup Validation Service, a free service that checks Web documents in formats like HTML and XHTML for conformance to W3C Recommendations and other standards. Place the parsed html file directly uploaded to that site or copy and paste the parsed html file in to the web site.
Its analysis all the thinks and give some suggestion to iron out the error based on the w3c rules.
After successful of passing the test, they provide an logo , we can place the logo in our site. The logo has the link for the http://validator.w3c.org when ever its clicked its certified as the site is W3C quality assured.
Some more free tools available to test the html markup and css.
http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/ àCSS
http://validator.w3.org/ àHtml/Xhtml
http://webxact.watchfire.com àhtml/xhtml


http://webxact.watchfire.com is the good web site to validate w3c quality assurance for html/xhtml

It has three Priorities
Priority 1 à Minimum requirement
Priority 2 à Medium requirement
Priority 3 à Professional requirement
At least obtain priority1 is must.


For Priority 1 We made some changes according to the W3C.
For more info http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505/
1 If an image conveys important information beyond what is in its alternative text, provide an extended description.
2 If you use color to convey information, make sure the information is also represented another way.
3 Identify any changes in the document's language.
4. If this is a data table (not used for layout only), identify headers for the table rows and columns.
5. If a table has two or more rows or columns that serve as headers, use structural markup to identify their hierarchy and relationship.
6. If style sheets are ignored or unsupported, ensure that pages are still readable and usable.
7. Make sure that the page does not cause the screen to flicker rapidly.
8. Use the simplest and most straightforward language that is possible.
Etc….

Priority 2:
Error:
1. Use a public text identifier in a DOCTYPE statement.
2. Use relative sizing and positioning, rather than absolute.
Warning
Check that the foreground and background colors contrast sufficiently with each other.
Where it's possible to mark up content instead of using images, use a markup language.
Avoid using tables to format text documents in columns unless the table can be linearized.
Inform the user that clicking on certain links or areas of a window will open pop-up windows or change the active window.
Use the latest technology specification available whenever possible.
Group related elements when possible.
Etc…

Priority 3:
Error:
Provide a summary for tables.
Separate adjacent links with more than whitespace.
Warning:
Use the ABBR and ACRONYM elements to denote and expand any abbreviations and acronyms that are present.
Consider specifying a logical tab order among form controls, links, and objects.
Consider adding keyboard shortcuts to frequently used links.
Allow users to customize their experience of the web page.
Provide navigation bars for easy access to the navigation structure.
Provide distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.
If this document is part of a collection, provide metadata that identifies this document's location in the collection.
Use a consistent style of presentation between pages.





http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/ is the good web site to validate w3c quality assurance for html/xhtml

W3C CSS Validation Service; a free service that checks Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in (X)HTML documents or standalone for conformance to W3C recommendations.

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