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How To Validate HTML Code – What You NEED To Know!
NEW VIDEO UP! Today's video is all about HTML validation. We'll talk about what HTML validation is, why it's important, and demonstrate several ways we can validate our HTML code to ensure that it is compliant with the latest web standards. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/fgaJVqjOe7w?si=iixRDzqVmvcqZQJK
Better HTML for Authorize.Net Merchant Portal
There is so much wrong with the 9 lines of HTML used to frame the Authorize.Net Merchant Portal. (I'm guessing that this method is probably used in an effort to hide the URLs used in their web requests.) I've identified & reported issues a couple times over the past years and received responses that their developers would "look into it". Nothing has ever changed, so I decided I'd provide an updated/corrected version in hopes that they would review and consider it.
The existing problems are:
Their 9 lines of code doesn't validate as a valid HTML document.
There's no character encoding, doctype or parsemode.
X-UA-Compatible should be first item after HEAD. (Google dropped support for Chrome Frame in 2014 and should probably not be used.)
The metatag with their company name is invalid. (Only has a single "name" attribute with spaces and no other attributes.)
Their favicon is non-existent (and is a broken link within the framed content).
Frameset & frame tags are deprecated (and may require a DTD.) iFrame should be used and is supported w/IE6+, Firefox 2+, Chrome 1+.
Here's the HTML I recommend using...
https://gist.github.com/JamoCA/ff5cc2693baf143cf885
HTML Validation
HTML Validation It is far less complicated to design and build a website incorporating accessibility, rather than implementing it once the coding is completed. This does not mean the coding cannot be fixed, but it is certainly something to keep in mind when updating or deciding to get a new website. After a website is completed, new content is added or simply performing routine website maintenance, it pays off to scan a site with an HTML validator. It is the most effective way to make certain critical elements are not overlooked. What to Test For HTML Validation will check for WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), a set of guidelines put together by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). The aim of the WCAG is to provide a standard for the web in order to generate content that meets the needs of the largest number of individuals internationally. The term content pertains to information such as text, images, sounds and coding that determines presentation. The current acceptable guidelines to meet are the WCAG 2.0. 2.0 is made up of 12 guidelines that are assembled under four concepts: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. WCAG 2.0 can be tested with an HTML validator including three levels of testable success criteria, A, AA, AAA. A second area that is vital to test for is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Rehabilitation Act requires websites that receive any federal funding to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. There are 16 standards to follow under the Federal Government’s Section 508. Any website receiving money from the government or would like to in the future, should test their site for 508 compliance. Available Tools: There are several HTML validation tools and software available on the internet, at both free and paid options. While free tools are nice to check a single page or area of a website, their testing capabilities will be limited and will only test one page at a time. If you are looking to test an entire website and receive the most accurate assessment, there are excellent tools available at a small cost. It is best to look for a tool that checks for WCAG, Section 508 compliance as well as broken links and coding errors. It is important the tool offer a GUI (Graphic User Interface) report that will display exact location of error visually.
#SEOTIPS can be well intentioned but are not always complete
I'm talking to the geekier elements of the audience with this post. For the rest I hope to have something for you again soon.
I stop by at Twitter and search the hashtag #SEOTIPS from time to time. You never know what you might find. Mostly I see nothing that interests me - same old same old. This is one I saw today ...
Place an alt tag on every image (gif, jpg, or png) so search engines can understand what the image is. #SEO #SEOTIPS
— SEO GROUP (@seogroup)
June 6, 2013
This is accurate and well intentioned but shouldn't be seen as a complete recommendation. Let's think about why the alt attribute (not tag) is used. If an image is not displayed (either images are turned off, the image has been moved or deleted from the server or the visitor is using a screen reader) the alt text is used to replace the image. So the purpose is to give meaning to the image. But some images have no meaning, they are purely decoration. Thus my reply ..
@seogroup agree the thrust of your alt tag #SEOTIPS, but I suggest empty alt text for images that are purely decoration.
— Chris Faber (@MidBoh)
June 7, 2013
It is true search engines will read the alt text and use it to give context to the image and rest of the content on the page. It will be one of the clues the search engines use to decide to show that image in response to an image search.
My first concern about that tweet is that we shouldn't make decisions about web pages based on what is best for the search engines. The primary users of a web page are the human visitors. They should be the reason we make decsions about the construction and content of a page.
I alluded to my second concern earlier, not all images add meaning to the page they are purely included for design purposes. In these cases the alt attribute should be included but the text should be empty (i.e. alt=""). It should not be the name of the image or the image dimensions (often the defaults in prior generations of web building tools).
When we go looking for tips it is important to look for the complete story before implementing them.
Just in case anyone thinks the alt text is an opportunity to stuff a few keywords. Don't! This is very "spammy". Search engines may ignore the keywords, but they always have the option to penalise the page or the website in the worst cases. It's worthwhile to remember the true intent of the alt attribute. Everyone using a screen reader on the page will get monumentally annoyed by hearing the same keywords repeated relentlessly as they try to consume your content.
Related articles:
The Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) benefits of HTML Validation (midboh.com.au)
photo credit: x-ray delta one via photopin cc
Author: Chris Faber
