[Bug 9122] New: Obsolete but Conforming

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=9122

           Summary: Obsolete but Conforming
           Product: HTML WG
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: Macintosh
        OS/Version: Mac System 9.x
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: HTML5 spec bugs
        AssignedTo: dave.null@w3.org
        ReportedBy: shelleyp@burningbird.net
         QAContact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
                CC: ian@hixie.ch, mike@w3.org, public-html@w3.org


The text of the current HTML 5 draft does not contain the sections in previous
versions of HTML in regards to Deprecated and Obsolete HTML elements[1].

Instead, the current document references terms such as "obsolete but
conforming" [2], leaving a great deal of confusion about just what this means,
and about the state of the elements so described. [3][4].

In addition, several valid HTML 4 elements and attributes have been described
as obsolete in HTML 5, not deprecated, which does not provide a graceful
transition period for people to remove these elements/attributes from their web
documents.

Considering how widespread the support for deprecated is within the technology
industry[5], the HTML 5 specification should return to the previously defined
sections describing deprecated and obsolete as listed in the HTML 4 document.
Doing so will ensure that older HTML elements aren't abruptly dropped, causing
confusion. This move will also ensure that there is a procedure in place to
ensure that when an element is dropped, it's dropped in favor of a replacement
that provides the same, or enhanced functionality. It will also help clarify
confusion caused by using terminology not used previously with any other known
specification.

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/conform.html#deprecated
[2] http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/Overview.html#obsolete
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Aug/0121.html
[4] http://realtech.burningbird.net/deprecated-is-now-obsolete
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deprecation

(this was original created directly as an Issue, Issue 72)


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Received on Monday, 22 February 2010 20:58:30 UTC