W3C DHTML standards

The goal of this independent challenge, Unit I 3, is to find information about the latest DHTML standards and whether they work in the Microsoft's Internet Explorer and the Netscape browsers. After searching for keywords DHTML standards in Google I found just a few articles and sources of information, most of them pretty old. So I went to CNET, which I know to be a useful resource about DHTML, and searched their database for information on DHTML. This is, very briefly, what I found.

Controversy over DHTML

At the time the textbook HTML Illustrated Complete was written, in 1998, everyone thought that DHTML would soon be given a standard (see this CNET article from February, 1998). There was the feeling that this exciting new method of creating events on web pages, activated by the actions of the local browser and not from downloading more information off the server, was the new way forward for web design.

However, Microsoft, Netscape and other browser companies (such as the one that makes Opera) could not agree on how to include them in their browser designs. Netscape has been keen to use only its own event tags (such as Layer) while Microsoft has been bringing aboard new DHTML features which have not even been agreed upon as part of the standards set out by the W3C consortium. There is some good information about these recent developments at a CNET article of July, 2000.

More corporate greed?

What this means, basically, is that the big browser semi-monopolies will not agree and have no incentive to agree to common rules. This is, once again, an example of some of the disadvantages of a free market if, as in this case, the main corporations involved are too powerful. A really useful, innovative and creative system of using HTML is being restricted by the short-sighted selfish desire (or need) for only profit-driven decisions by these companies. What we can hope for, then, is that pressure is applied to these giants of the internet marketplace to act in the interests of everyone and agree upon a common standard.

Glimmer of hope for DHTML

There are signs that this might already be taking place. Netscape claims that its latest browser, version 6, can work with basic elements of DHTML, such as DOMs, XML and CSS level 1. Further research uncovered claims at another Netscape site that it was the only browser to fully support DOM level 1 and led the way with DOM level 2, as set out by the W3C organization. Nevertheless, there are many elements of DHTML that are not mentioned, including some of the most exciting dynamic events, especially those that involve moving images. Microsoft's latest browser, as of August 2000, is version 5.5. In the announcement about this version, Microsoft makes no claims to be a leading supporter of the CSS level 1 or 2, but does claim to be able to provide custom DHTML support, whatever that is. Even if this is disappointing it does show that there is some effort by these corporations to actually