http://www.w3.org/ -- 10 April 2001 -- The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) today announced the publication of Modularization of XHTML as a W3C Recommendation. This specification defines a method for separating XHTML 1.0 into a collection of modules, each enabling a group of familiar and related HTML functionalities, such as lists, forms, tables, and images. This gives product and specification developers standard building blocks for creating content, and standard methods for specifying which blocks are used.
A W3C Recommendation indicates that a specification is stable, contributes to Web interoperability, and has been reviewed by the W3C Membership, who are in favor of supporting its adoption by academic, industry, and research communities.
As the Web has grown, so has the variety of devices people use to collect and create information. Hand-held computers, mobile phones, television devices and fixed appliances each have different requirements and constraints for creating and receiving Web content. Users now expect all of these devices to give them access to the entire Web.
To meet the needs of millions of users, in addition to Web developers and designers, W3C's HTML Working Group has developed Modularization of XHTML. Modules provide the means for both subsetting and extending XHTML, which make it suitable for use on many types of devices, large or small. "Modularization of XHTML gives content developers the ability to choose modules, either alone or in combination with others, which are all components of the XHTML family, ensuring interoperability," explained Steven Pemberton, Chair of the HTML Working Group. "By using standardized modules in clearly specified ways, we are able to use automated tools to transform content to suit various devices, so content developers can focus on what they do best."
This is the third Recommendation the W3C HTML Working Group has produced in the past 15 months, building from XHTML 1.0 in January 2000, and XHTML Basic in December 2000.
In recent news, many companies have committed to implement XHTML as the language of choice for mobile products, content and services. Further, XHTML Basic, the first implementation of Modularization, is already endorsed by the mobile telecommunications industry. The lessons learned in creating XHTML Basic provided the experience necessary to prove the principles and methods described in Modularization of XHTML.
The W3C HTML Working Group consists of key industry leaders and experts, including Applied Testing and Technology, CWI, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Microsoft, Mozquito Technologies, Netscape/AOL, Openwave Systems, Opera Software, Philips Electronics, Quark Inc., Sun Microsystems, and WebGeek, Inc.
The W3C was created to lead the Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. It is an international industry consortium jointly run by the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science (MIT LCS) in the USA, the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA) in France and Keio University in Japan. Services provided by the Consortium include: a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users, and various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology. To date, over 500 organizations are Members of the Consortium. For more information see http://www.w3.org/