Good HTML formatting includes declaring the document type, using metadata keywords for SEO, consistent indentation, proper tag nesting, and adding comments. The three most common document type declarations are HTML Strict, Transitional, and Frameset. Using specific and relevant metadata keywords can improve search engine rankings. Proper indentation and tag nesting are important for readability and accuracy.
The best tips for formatting Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) include specifying a document type declaration, adding good metadata keywords for better search engine optimization (SEO), and following a consistent indentation system to make HTML formatting easier for others to read. Writing good HTML code also involves following a set of rules for nesting tags in the correct order, which sometimes requires more attention to detail. Adding specific comments to an HTML document is another good formatting tip that simplifies the editing process. Learning good HTML formatting is generally considered a key part of the web design process.
HTML coding in a new document often begins with a declaration indicating what type of HTML tag will be used in the document. The three most common document type declarations are called HTML Strict, HTML Transitional, and HTML Frameset. Including one of these declarations is essential for checking an HTML document with a validator designed to check for coding errors.
Many professional web developers recommend using the HTML Strict declaration whenever possible. The HTML transition document declaration can be used in cases where the web designer uses elements of different versions of HTML. An example would be a document written primarily in HTML 4 with some additional functionality coded in HTML 5.
Metadata keywords are one of the most important elements of a website that ranks well in major search engines. These keywords are also an area of HTML formatting that many web designers overlook or fail to plan for sufficiently. Placing specific and relevant keywords in metadata tags often makes a significant difference in bringing targeted visitors to a site based on similar phrases they type into a search engine.
A common HTML formatting mistake for novice web developers is to keep every line of code left justified in their HTML editors. While this practice saves time in indenting HTML elements, it results in HTML documents that are difficult to decipher. Incorrect indentation can also sometimes lead to inaccurate edits when other designers check an HTML document for errors, and these missed errors can even cause a web page to render incorrectly in a browser. A general rule of thumb for indentation is that only the opening and closing tags should be left justified with their HTML content indented with at least one tab space.
Proper tag nesting is also essential for proper HTML formatting. The closing tags of a line of HTML generally need to be typed in the same logical order as the corresponding opening tags. This formatting step often takes some practice with lines of HTML code that contain several nested elements.
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