HTML is generally considered less strict than XHTML. Here’s why:
Syntax Flexibility: HTML allows more leniency in coding style. For example, tags in HTML do not need to be closed, and tag and attribute names are not case-sensitive. Browsers are forgiving and often correct or ignore errors, still rendering the webpage correctly. In contrast, XHTML enforces strict syntax rules derived from XML, requiring all tags to be properly closed, correctly nested, and written in lowercase.
Error Handling: HTML’s lenient error handling means that small mistakes in the code usually don’t break the page. XHTML, being XML-based, requires documents to be well-formed; any syntax error can prevent the entire document from rendering.
Tag Closure: Empty elements in HTML can be written without a self-closing slash (e.g., <br>), whereas XHTML mandates self-closing for empty elements (e.g., <br />).
Attribute Rules: XHTML requires that all attribute values must be enclosed in quotes and forbids attribute minimization (e.g., checked must be written as checked="checked"). HTML is more flexible in these aspects.
Document Structure: XHTML documents require a well-defined DOCTYPE and the use of the XML namespace, whereas HTML is more permissive about document declarations.
Final Thoughts
XHTML is more strict than HTML because it follows XML rules, making it more rigorous and less forgiving in syntax enforcement. HTML’s flexibility eases development but can allow inconsistent code, while XHTML ensures well-formed markup and predictable browser behavior, though it demands greater discipline in coding. This strictness can be beneficial for environments requiring high consistency and XML interoperability, while HTML remains the more popular choice for general web development due to its leniency and broad compatibility
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