Developing Static Websites

Abstract

Before you plunge into the waters of dynamic websites, you should learn the basics first. “Don’t run before you can walk” is currently more applicable in the world of web development than it has ever been. Why? The way the web works is changing. Hacked up old HTML documents full of <font> tags are out; unforgiving XHTML and CSS documents are very much here to stay, and the Web is to be made accessible for everyone. In this chapter, you’ll learn about why this is happening, what it means for you as a developer, and, more importantly, what on earth XHTML and CSS are actually all about. By the end of this chapter, you’ll have made a basic web page that is totally XHTML/CSS valid and meets the new accessibility laws. It will have alternate style sheets, including large text and reverse colors for the visually impaired, making it easier for them to read.