Validation = Web Standards?

There's no argument that validation is important part of web development process. But does valid markup and css alone guarantee quality?

Written by Alen Grakalic on: 25 Nov, 2008

There's no argument that validation is important part of web development process. Every standartista knows it. But does valid markup and css alone guarantee quality?
We see everyday sites with small xhtml/css valid buttons. Does that mean that we are looking at site built according to web standards? Not necessarily.
The most common error in approach is belief that valid site is the goal of web standards. Many inexperienced developers put validation as a priority while on the other hand they should pay more attention to markup structure or optimized css code.

In many ways html validation can be compared to spell checking. Take this sentence and run it through spell checker. 

Dog lazy run fox  jump.

It will not show errors. But does the sentence make sense? The same principle could be applied to markup as well. This code turns out to be valid.

<div class="title">Example</div>

<div class="description">Description text</div>

<div class="text">

<div class="item">

<div class="smallTitle">Item  one</div>

<div class="itemText">Item one  description</div>

</div>

<div class="item">

<div class="smallTitle">Item two</div>

<div class="itemText">Item two  description</div>

</div>

</div>

But is it this the best way to go?
I would rather see something like this. 

<h2>Example  </h2>

<p> Description  text </p>

<ul>

<li>

<h3>Item  one </h3>

<p>Item one description</p>

</li>

<li>

<h3>Item  two</h3>

<p>Item two description</p>

</li>

</ul>

This code is also valid but it is also well structured, optimized and it gives you enough "basis" to apply your styles to.

Validation is checking your code for errors. It is important and very helpful in learning process but once you are done and have valid code it is up to you to make sure that your code is well structured and optimized.

Alen Grakalic Alen Grakalic is a designer, developer and a passionate standardista with large experience in all types of front-end work. Started to get involved with web in 1999. and turned freelance in 2005., the same year he started Css Globe. Alen's work has been featured on numerous css galleries including famous Css Zen Garden official list.

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