Preface
Learning Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) is like learning any new language, computer or human. Most students first immerse themselves in examples. Studying others is a natural way to learn, making learning easy and fun. Our advice to anyone wanting to learn HTML and XHTML is to get out there on the Web with a suitable browser and see for yourself what looks good, what's effective, and what works for you. Examine others' documents and ponder the possibilities. Mimicry is how many of the current webmasters have learned the language.
Imitation can take you only so far, though. Examples can be both good and bad. Learning by example helps you talk the talk, but not walk the walk. To become truly conversant, you must learn how to use the language appropriately in many different situations. You could learn all that by example, if you live long enough.
Computer-based languages are more explicit than human languages, though the markup languages are much more forgiving than the programming ones. Nonetheless, you typically have to get the computer language syntax correct or it won't work. There are "standards," too. Committees of academics and industry experts define the proper syntax and usage of a computer language like HTML. The problem is that the browser technologies that you and your audience use to display your documents don't always keep up with the standards. Some can't, like the limited viewers used in the burgeoning mobile-device ...