Re: aside and figure elements

Laura Carlson, Tue, 8 Jun 2010 06:21:32 -0500:
> Hi Leif,
> 
>> The
>> point that should be emphasized is that a <figure>, regardless of its
>> close or distant relationship to the rest of the page, is an entity of
>> its own.
> 
> How is that different from aside?
> 
> Thanks.

Things that are legitimately seen as different things, may still be 
deeply connected.  But I agree that it is worth asking whether the 
difference is perceived or "real". 

On the Web, there often isn't any real difference between having 
something on the same page or on another page. Even an <aside> could 
probably be placed on another page: <a href="link">An aside</a>.

Attempt on defining the difference: 

	<aside> cannot be moved to another context without loosing a lot of 
its original meaning. If you loose the link to the context - in any 
meaning of "link" - the <aside> stops functioning as an aside. Being 
"tangentially related" it *is* related and dependent on to the context.

	<figure>, while it can also "take up" meaning from the context in 
which it is located, it may also be moved to another location and still 
be meaningful in itself and on its own. Thus a <figure> can be dropped 
into many different contexts and still be meaningful.

To better discern <figure> from <aside>,  how about *requiring* 
<figure> to have a summary/caption? Because, the way I see it, unless a 
<figure> has a caption, it is difficult to perceive it as an 
independent entity suitable for more than one context.

Your turn ...
-- 
leif halvard silli

Received on Tuesday, 8 June 2010 12:46:22 UTC