RE: RDF in XHTML

Sean B. Palmer wrote:
"Thus, I guess I conclude that embedding information into XHTML is
quite a good idea, when you weigh up all sides of the debate."

I disagree.

Yes, it would be good to have a way to embed metadata right in the XHTML,
but for the near future it would be better to link to a separate metadata
document. Here's why I think this:

The vast majority of page loads for at least the foreseeable future will be
by legacy browsers unable to do anything with the metadata. If the metadata
is embedded in the XHTML, all of those page loads will have to bring down
the (useless) metadata. What a tremendous waste of bandwidth.

If we can link to the metadata via a link element, then only those user
agents needing the metadata will access it. It will still be accessible to
anyone using older browsers (though they might have to look at the source to
find the link), but we'll save a lot of bandwidth.

I would think that this would be of concern to every site developer. Making
it possible to link to metadata might encourage its early adoption.

So first, let's find a mechanism to link to RDF from XHTML. Then we can find
a way to embed it at our leisure.

Sincerely,
Charles F. Munat
Seattle, Washington

Received on Monday, 16 April 2001 17:33:03 UTC