Skip to main content

HTML specification dropping version numbers

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) just took the wraps of an HTML5 logo, intended to serve as an all-purpose branding for current versions of key Web technologies, including HTML and CSS as well as standards like SVG graphics and WOFF, the Web Open Font Format. Although browser developers have been touting their support for “HTML5” features for some time—including local storage, CSS 3.0 support, and support for media-friendly HTML elements like canvas and video), the actual HTML 5 specification has never been finalized, making the technology a moving target for developers and publishers.

However, the reality is that there hasn’t been a formal, complete specification for HTML since HTMl 4.01 over a decade ago, and now the head of the Web Hypertext Application Working Group (WHATWG), Ian Hickson, says that HTML development is going to drop version numbers to become a “living standard” that will evolve dynamically, adapting new technologies on the fly.

“HTML is the new HTML5,” Hickson writes. “In practice, the WHATWG has basically been operating like this for years, and indeed we were going to change the name last year but ended up deciding to wait a bit since people still used the term ‘HTML5’ a lot. However, the term is now basically being used to mean anything Web-standards-related, so it’s time to move on!”

Specifications for HTML will simply live under the banner term HTML, and will be treated as a “living standard.” In practice, that means that the WHATAG will no longer attempt to create snapshots of the standard that can be used as reference points, and will no longer seek to certify versions of HTML. Instead, the HTML standard will simply be a living document that defines Web technology as it evolves.

While HTML development has been a moving target for a number of years, some developers consider the WHATAG’s decision as little more than throwing in the towel, an admission that Web technology has become too complex to be managed effectively, and an increased opportunity for a limited number of interested parties (like big companies) to influence standards development. On the other hand, some developers welcome the move, since it means groups like the WHATAG will spend less time and fewer resources trying to wrangle together a definitive spec; that, in turn, could lead to new technologies being integrated with the “standard” more quickly, spurring new innovations.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Apple’s cheaper Vision Pro headset may have been scrapped, report claims
Apple Vision Pro being worn by a person while using a keyboard.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is still months away from launching, but one well-known analyst has already painted a bleak picture for the device. According to the assessment, Apple might have canceled a low-cost version of the Vision Pro, leaving potential customers in the lurch.

The news was published in a report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is thought to have well-placed sources in Apple’s supply chain. Previous leaks have suggested that Apple is working on a cheaper edition of the Vision Pro -- due to launch in 2025 -- to help users who can’t afford the base model’s $3,499 price tag, but Kuo thinks those plans might have been scrapped entirely.

Read more
Best Razer gaming laptop deals: Save on the Blade 14, 15, and 17
Someone using the Razer Blade 14 on a table.

Razer is a staple computing brand that gamers have learned to trust. Whether you just have a Razer headset or Razer gaming mouse, you've probably grown to start trusting the signature neon three-headed snake. Razer makes great gaming laptops because they only make gaming laptops. They're not just dipping their toes in the space. Quality comes with a price, but thankfully there are good gaming laptop deals on Razer machines. All of the Razer gaming laptop deals below come straight from their site, so you can trust that the laptop is going straight from their warehouse to you. Check out the deals below on various configurations of the Razer Blade 14, 15 and 17 gaming laptops.
Razer Blade 14 -- $1,800, was $2,000

This smallest Razer laptop still has everything you could need from a gaming computer, from the powerful components to the fun aesthetics. Inside the Razer Blade 14, you get an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, which has 16  cores. The graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. It's a quality graphics card that will handle demanding modern games, VR and even ray tracing. It comes stock with 16GB of RAM. The screen only gets 1080p, but it has a 144Hz refresh rate that will keep your frame rate smooth. On the outside, you get a full RGB keyboard, just for fun.

Read more
Best 4K monitor deals: Get a high-resolution screen for $230
The Samsung Odyssey G9 monitor on a desk in an apartment.

If you're searching monitor deals for something a bit more high-end like a 4K monitor, we've got all the best 4K monitor deals lined up below. A combination of regular 4K monitors and gaming screens, there are options here for every budget. Each will be a great way of enhancing your time in front of your PC or Mac. Here's the pick of the bunch.
LG 27-inch 4K monitor -- $230, was $350

LG makes some of the best monitors around and such great quality extends to its 4K monitor range. The 27-inch monitor has a 3840 x 2160 resolution as expected. It also has VESA DisplayHDR 400 which provides better color and more natural light and shadow. There's also DCI-P3 95% coverage of the color spectrum. AMD FreeSync support ensures smoother gaming too along with better input lag and limited screen tearing.

Read more