Facebook Cookbook

Chapter 6. Facebook Markup Language (FBML)

In the world of Facebook Platform, Facebook Markup Language (FBML) is to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) as Facebook JavaScript (FBJS) is to JavaScript (JS) and Facebook Query Language (FQL) is to Structured Query Language (SQL). This may seem strange at first—almost like some sort of parallel universe in which you have been given two left feet and must dance the tango in double-time—but it’s really not that bad. If you have any familiarity with HTML, you’ll discover pretty quickly that FBML is really just like having a bunch of new dance moves available, having a bunch of your old ones updated and changed from 10-step-long sequences into a graceful one-stepper, and occasionally having to learn a different way to do the familiar foxtrot.

Note

You should be able to look up any of the tags covered in this chapter by adding them to the end of the Facebook Developers Wiki URL. As an example, if you want more info on fb:name, go to http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Fb:name.

What Is FBML?

Problem

When I hang out around other Facebook developers (at a Facebook Developer Garage event, say), sometimes all I hear is FBML, FBML, FBML. I just got a handle on HTML! What’s this new thing everyone is going on about?

Solution

FBML is Facebook Markup Language, an extension of HTML that works within Facebook Canvas pages (and some other spots, such as Profile Boxes) to render your content within the constraints of the Facebook Platform Sandbox. The ...