HTML5 spec for web developers
Written by Ian Elliot   
Wednesday, 09 March 2011

A version of the HTML5 specification aimed directly at web developers - what more could you want? There is nothing worse than having to work out a new feature from a difficult-to-read impenetrable specification document. Spec docs aren't written in any known language on the planet and they can't even agree on terminology to use.


 

 

html5spec

 

Now you can read a developer friendly version of the HTML5 specification compiled by Ben Schwarz for WHATWG (Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group).

The idea is that the complete specification has to include details that are often relevant to web browser implementers which, important though they might be, are a fairly small percentage of the overall potential readers of the spec. The new developer specification aims to provide only the details of HTML5 that are relevant to actually using it.

Before you get too excited I'd better say that it still isn't an easy read and certainly no replacement for a good tutorial - but there are times when reading a specification is one, and perhaps the only, way to make sure you understand how things are supposed to work.  As well as the mainstream HTML5 tags, the specification also covers drag-and-drop, the editing APIs and cross document messaging. It also covers Canvas and SVG but they are not easy to find. Although it's a work in progress it really needs a better index - well any index.

 

html5spec

One tip - the search box at the top right works really well.

More Information

Developers HTML5 spec

 

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 March 2011 )