XHTML Digest
From Zanecorpwiki
Context
XHTML 1.0 combined the HTML 4.01 standard with the formatting restrictions necessary to produce valid XML documents. XHTML 1.1 was made a recommendation, but then effectively retracted due to problems revolving around browser handling of the new 'xml+html' media type and issues making XHTML 1.1 documents unsuitable for use with the 'html' media type.[1]
Part of the problem was the failure of XHTML 1.1 to gain widespread acceptance. While the W3C is understandably focused on the continued development of web based documents and saw XHTML 1.0 as somewhat minor step of making HTML documents compatible with XML, the wider world saw it as a good enough solution that brought HTML in-line with other developments in. Though the W3C has continued to push for further developments, the focus of the larger community has shifted away from simple information toward delivery of applications and services.
Despite the age of the XHTML 1.0 standard, it will likely remain the practical format for a couple years at least. Coordinating implementation and encouraging end users to upgrade may be somewhat more challenging today than it was in the early days of the web which saw a new document standard released every couple of years. Furthermore, efforts are stymied by the W3C itself which has spread focus and confused the market by working simultaneously on what are viewed as three competing, exclusive standards: HTML 5, XHTML 1.2, and XHTML 2.0.
