Table of Content
HTML and XHTML describe web pages. You must know the differences to write code that works across browsers. This article covers HTML vs XHTML. So, let’s get started.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It defines how a browser displays content on a page.
The HTML has tags that wrap elements like:
- Text
- Images
- Links
Here is the structure you need:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Hello World</h1>
<p>This is HTML in action</p>
</body>
</html>The browser reads tags one by one and builds a document tree. This shows you a page with web page components such as a heading and a paragraph.
What is XHTML?
XHTML stands for Extensible HyperText Markup Language. It follows XML instructions and demands strict syntax.
Here, each tag must close, and all attributes must use quotes.
Here is an example:
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title>My XHTML Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Hello World</h1>
<p>This is XHTML in action</p>
</body>
</html>The browser reads this as XML and applies HTML structure on top. The code will not work if you miss quotes or fail to close a tag.
The Key Differences between HTML and XHTML
Here is a table that shows the main points:
| Point | HTML | XHTML |
|---|---|---|
| Doctype | Simple <!DOCTYPE html> | Long XML-based doctype |
| Syntax | Loose | Strict |
| Tag case | Upper or lower | Lower only |
| Tag close | Not always needed | Always needed |
| Attributes | Without quotes allowed | Quotes required |
| Error handle | Browser fixes | Browser breaks |
- HTML works best for modern browsers that accept flexible code.
- XHTML works well if you need strict markup or XML systems.
XHTML fits special cases where XML support is needed.
Examples of HTML and XHTML syntax
HTML form without strict rules:
<form>
<input type=text name=username>
<input type=submit value=Send>
</form>This code creates a form with a text field and a submit button. HTML accepts input without quotes around values.
XHTML form with strict rules:
<form action="submit.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="username" />
<input type="submit" value="Send" />
</form>This example shows how XHTML requires strict syntax. Each input tag ends with a slash.
HTML image tag with missing close:
<img src="photo.jpg" alt="My Photo">This code runs in HTML without a closing slash, and the browser still shows the image.
XHTML image tag with required close:
<img src="photo.jpg" alt="My Photo" />The tag closes with a slash, and the syntax stays strict, so the browser parses it like XML.
Wrapping Up
You learned how HTML and XHTML work in the browser and how each one has its own instructions when you write code.
Here is a quick recap:
- HTML still shows the page even when the code has mistakes.
- XHTML follows strict rules because it uses the same rules as XML.
- You saw a table of main differences and examples.
FAQs
What is the main difference between HTML and XHTML?
<!-- HTML example -->
<input type="text">
<!-- XHTML example -->
<input type="text" />
Which is better to use, HTML or XHTML?
- HTML – Easier, widely supported, flexible.
- XHTML – Stricter, XML-based, ensures clean code.
<!DOCTYPE html> (HTML5 standard)
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
Why do developers still use XHTML?
- Strict syntax enforces cleaner code.
- Works well with XML tools.
- Ensures compatibility in some enterprise systems.
<!-- XHTML requires lowercase tags -->
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head><title>XHTML Example</title></head>
<body><p>Hello World</p></body>
</html>
Can I convert HTML to XHTML?
- Close all tags properly.
- Use lowercase for elements and attributes.
- Add a proper DOCTYPE declaration.
<!-- HTML -->
<br>
<!-- XHTML -->
<br />
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