Abstract

This specification defines the 5th major revision of the core language of the World Wide Web: the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In this version, new features are introduced to help Web application authors, new elements are introduced based on research into prevailing authoring practices, and special attention has been given to defining clear conformance criteria for user agents in an effort to improve interoperability.

Status of This document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at http://www.w3.org/TR/.

The W3C HTML Working Group is the W3C working group responsible for this specification's progress. This specification is the 16 September 2014 Proposed Recommendation. This specification is intended to become a W3C Recommendation.

The W3C Membership and other interested parties are invited to review the document and send comments to public-html@w3.org (archives) through 14 October 2014. Advisory Committee Representatives should consult their WBS questionnaires. Note that substantive technical comments were expected during the Last Call review period that ended 15 July 2014.

In light of the normative reference policy, the HTML Working Group assumes that the URL specification will advance from its Working Draft status to a more stable status to ensure it is sufficiently stable for a normative reference. The Director is considering whether Working Draft status is sufficient for a normative reference from HTML5. Given the broad interest in the URL specification that spans multiple organizations, it is also our objective to find a solution for this reference acceptable to all.

A comprehensive test suite for this specification is maintained and kept up to date as part of the WebPlatform Tests project.

Please see the Working Group's implementation report. Due to a lack of implementations, the DataCue interface and drag and drop features were dropped from this draft.

If you wish to make comments regarding this document in a manner that is tracked by the W3C, please submit them via using our our public bug database (open bugs). If you cannot do this then you can also e-mail feedback to public-html@w3.org (subscribe, archives), and arrangements will be made to transpose the comments to our public bug database. All feedback is welcome.

Work on evolutions of this specification proceeds at http://www.w3.org/TR/html51/.

Work on extending this specification typically proceeds through extension specifications which should be consulted to see what new features are being reviewed.

The bulk of the text of this specification is also available in the WHATWG HTML Living Standard, under a license that permits reuse of the specification text.

Publication as a Proposed Recommendation does not imply endorsement by the W3C Membership. This is a draft document and may be updated, replaced or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to cite this document as other than work in progress.

The latest source of the editors' draft of this specification is always available in the W3C HTML git repository.

Work on this specification is also done at the WHATWG. The W3C HTML working group actively pursues convergence of the HTML specification with the WHATWG living standard, within the bounds of the W3C HTML working group charter. There are various ways to follow this work at the WHATWG:

This document was produced by a group operating under the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

This document is governed by the 14 October 2005 W3C Process Document.

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