Colored computer code on a black screen.

10 Awesome Resources for Learning Web Standards

Published on by David A. Kennedy

If you’re a new web designer, multimedia storyteller or interactive media professional, here’s a short list of resources that will help you learn more about web standards.

The Web Standards Group defines web standards as “(HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, XSLT etc.) and best practices (accessible sites using valid and semantically correct code).” Web standards are important when building websites because they can make your site function better, last longer and be accessible by many people across multiple platforms.

Designing with Web Standards by Jeffrey Zeldman

Authored by the Godfather of web standards, Jeffrey Zeldman, this book should be considered one of the more important guideposts in learning and embracing web standards.

Opera Web Standards Curriculum

Who doesn’t like free? Opera, the company who created one of the world’s popular web browsers, offers up a ton of free, online material relating to web standards.

The Web Standards Project

This grassroots organization has worked with browser makers since 1998 to make the web more accessible for all.

W3 Schools

A perfect spot to get free tutorials and examples on how to build and maintain web standard compliant websites.

W3C

Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the web, this organization defines the web’s standards.

A List Apart

An online magazine, dedicated to the exploration of the design and development of websites, with a focus on standards and best practices.

W3C Markup Validation Service

This online tool can help you validate the HTML code you write for the websites. There is also a CSS Validator.

Web Standards Group

A group of web designers and developers interested in web standards.

Web Standards Checklist

An old list, first published in 2004, but it’s still a great starting point for things to address when designing and building a site.

How to Grok Web Standards

An article that explains how graphic designers need to approach thinking about designing for the web.

Image by Markus Spiske.

Tagged Open Web