Until the last couple of years, the vast majority of web pages were written in the language known as HTML 4.0.1. However, there are a number of advantages to using HTML5, which is, for the most part, similar to its predecessor. The primary differences between the two languages, however, can be found in improvements in new semantic elements, as well as direct support for video and audio and built-in form validation. Utilizing these elements allows people to build web pages with significant more ease than they used to. Also, such elements may be of interest to people in online graphic design schools.
The new elements of semantics found in HTML5 enable web pages to be described more accurately than they previously were. These new elements comprised of sections, navs, articles, asides, headers, hgroups, and footers. Such elements are typically used by writing them into a page’s program with the content for that page or part of the page in between the elements. For example, using the section element would require users to write whatever content they like. The section element effectively partitions a section of content that typically uses headers, such as chapters, numbered sections, or tabbed pages.
Nav elements allow people to wrap a section of navigation links that direct people to locations within or outside a site. Articles define a specific part of the site, such as a standalone blog post. Asides are used to separate tangential additions to a page, such as advertising or possibly pull quotes. Headers are similar to headlines, although they, like footers, can be used multiple times within a page. Hgroup elements are used to include a hierarchical group of h1-h6 tags.
It is significantly easier to input audio and video elements into a web page with HTML5, which may be confirmed online. Whereas conventional HTML 4.0.1 audio and video additions typically required some form of a browser plug-in, HTML 5 merely requires users to employ tags that enables for such media to be directly inserted into a web page. These tags replace all of the heavy coding and the plug-ins like Flash that were previously required to write audio and video into a page. Additional attributes for video also include the means to automatically play a video when it is loaded, loop functions, buffering, and personalized play or stop buttons that that can be added to a tag to use. For more information on HTML and using HTML to enhance your webpage or blog, check out Technology Blogs.
Also, HTML’s built-in form validation allows for browsers to validate forms without JavaScript or PHP by utilizing input fields that contain information such as URL, dates, numbers, and email addresses.