Re: "Mostly useless" doctype

Done, #9287 <http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=9287>

-- T.J.


On 21 March 2010 13:42, Paul Cotton <Paul.Cotton@microsoft.com> wrote:

>  With regard to your comment, I would like to encourage you to submit this
> item to the HTML WG via the W3C public Bugzilla system [1].
>
>
>
> The HTML WG WG’s Decision Policy Basic Process [2] is driven by the
> processing of Bugzilla entries so your comment is more likely to have an
> impact if you create a Bugzilla bug for it.
>
>
>
> If you are unable to do this for a good reason, then please let the WG
> co-chairs know and one of us will arrange for this to be done for you.
>
>
>
> /paulc
>
> HTML WG co-chair
>
>
>
> [1]
> http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/enter_bug.cgi?product=HTML%20WG&component=HTML5+spec+bugs
>
> [2] http://dev.w3.org/html5/decision-policy/decision-policy.html#basic
>
>
>
>
>
> Paul Cotton, Microsoft Canada
>
> 17 Eleanor Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 6A3
>
> Tel: (425) 705-9596 Fax: (425) 936-7329
>
>
>
> *From:* public-html-comments-request@w3.org [mailto:
> public-html-comments-request@w3.org] *On Behalf Of *T.J. Crowder
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 21, 2010 6:01 AM
> *To:* public-html-comments
> *Subject:* "Mostly useless" doctype
>
>
>
> In Section 8.1.1 <http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/syntax.html#the-doctype>.,
> the current published specification says:
>
>
>
> A DOCTYPE is a mostly useless, but required, header.
>
>
>
> It then goes on to say:
>
>
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> DOCTYPEs are required for legacy reasons. When omitted, browsers tend to
> use a different rendering mode that is incompatible with some
> specifications.
>
>
>
> So, not useless then, or even mostly useless, as it's required to ensure
> that the most common UAs in the world (web browsers) behave something close
> to properly.
>
>
>
> Perhaps consider dropping the "mostly useless" comment to avoid encouraging
> skimmers to drop it. Perhaps "A DOCTYPE is a required header that primarily
> serves a legacy, but significant, purpose."
>
>
>
> (Separately: It's a header? That seems an odd term for it.)
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> --
>
> T.J. Crowder
>
> tj @ crowdersoftware / com
>
> www / crowder software / com
>