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Thread ID: 78889 2007-05-01 11:54:00 DOCType Tags - use thereof johcar (6283) Press F1
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546045 2007-05-01 11:54:00 Being a newbie to HTML coding, can someone please explain the pros and / or cons of each of the three DOCType tags:

1. <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "www.w3.org
2. <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 TRANSITIONAL//EN" "www.w3.org
3. <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Frameset//EN" "www.w3.org

(My site does not use frames - if this is what this last tag is for...)

What effect does the use of any of these tags have on both the end user of the site as well as the developer of the pages?

Which tag, if any, is generally preferred or is considered better than another?

Thanks.
johcar (6283)
546046 2007-05-01 12:14:00 Doctypes definitely affect the way a page is rendered. A good write-up on this can be found here (hsivonen.iki.fi). This is summed up in the fact that a browser renders a page in either a standards mode or a quirks mode, the later kicking in if a doctype isn't detected.

A doctype defines rules of markup. For example off the top of my head, the general XHTML rules include a leaner element set with focus on structure and not design, elements should be marked up lowercase and be properly nested.

If you're deciding on a doctype from the list you posted then go with the first. Here's a bonus link for you, ALA - Fix Your Site With the Right DOCTYPE! (alistapart.com).
sal (67)
546047 2007-05-01 15:15:00 Or just buy the latest version of Dreamweaver and let the software take the hassle out of it. :D Greg (193)
546048 2007-05-01 21:57:00 Or just buy the latest version of Dreamweaver and let the software take the hassle out of it. :D Donations towards the NZD600 price tag gratefully received!! :D johcar (6283)
546049 2007-05-01 22:55:00 Use:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "www.w3.org

Nothing else. Unless you want to go to xhtml.

Don't use the frameset one, because that would mean you would be using frames. Noooo! :p

And don't use the loose one, because there is no point. Your html should be at the strict standard.
mejobloggs (264)
546050 2007-05-01 22:56:00 By the way... www.htmldog.com is a very good place to learn html/css mejobloggs (264)
546051 2007-05-02 00:11:00 Thanks for your suggestions and useful links guys - "Strict" looked to me to be the 'proper' one to use, but thanks for the confirmation... :thumbs: johcar (6283)
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