The promise of web standards

W3C standards define an open web platform for application development. The web has the unprecedented potential to enable developers to build rich interactive experiences, that can be available on any device.

The platform continues to expand, but web users have long ago rallied around HTML as the cornerstone of the web. Many more technologies that W3C and its partners are creating extend the web and give it full strength, including CSS, SVG, WOFF, WebRTC, XML, and a growing variety of APIs.

W3C Standards and Drafts

Why W3C web standards?

W3C publishes recommendations, that are considered web standards.

W3C develops technical specifications according to the W3C Process, which is designed to maximize consensus, ensure quality, earn endorsement and adoption by W3C Members and the broader community.

W3C web standards are optimized for interoperability, security, privacy, web accessibility, and internationalization.

W3C's proven web standards process is based on fairness, openness, royalty-free, we make the web work, for everyone.

Learn about the potential and promises of web standards.

Wide array of applications

W3C standards, technical specifications and guidelines are widely deployed on the web:

  • Rendering of web pages
  • Enabling access from any device
  • Architecture of the web
  • Linking data and services
  • Authoring tools