[Bug 20993] XHTML5 syntax should require valid DOCTYPE declaration (<!DOCTYPE root> should match root element)

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=20993

Robin Berjon <robin@w3.org> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|NEW                         |RESOLVED
                 CC|                            |robin@w3.org
         Resolution|---                         |WONTFIX

--- Comment #1 from Robin Berjon <robin@w3.org> ---
EDITOR'S RESPONSE: This is an Editor's Response to your comment. If you are
satisfied with this response, please change the state of this bug to CLOSED. If
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Status: Rejected
Change Description: none
Rationale:

Here's what the XML specification has to say about this:

"""
Validity constraint: Root Element Type

The Name in the document type declaration MUST match the element type of the
root element.
"""

This is a *validity constraint*. Which is to say:

"""
[Definition: A rule which applies to all valid XML documents. Violations of
validity constraints are errors; they MUST, at user option, be reported by
validating XML processors.] 
"""

That only makes sense if you see what a "valid" XML document is:

"""
An XML document is valid if it has an associated document type declaration and
if the document complies with the constraints expressed in it.
"""

Since XHTML5 has no DTD to define constraints on it, an XHTML5 can never be
made to pass validity constraints. What you are requesting be checked should in
fact never be checked (unless you invent an XHTML5 DTD of your own, but then
you'd get the behaviour you want as per the XML spec automatically.)

An XML processor that enforces the Name constraint while there is no DTD is in
violation of the XML specification, as per my reading. It is no business of the
HTML specification to modify XML (unless strictly required by Web
compatibility).

So concerning your justifications:

(1) is not supported by the XML specification.
(2) I don't think that this is a justification. Authors should be empowered to
cry out their love of web technology wherever they see fit.
(3) is a problem for polyglot to address.
(4) I don't really understand what you're trying to get at there. I don't think
that encouraging validation using XML Schema is a good practice in any
situation.
(5) seems to be a comment about NU.
(6) I don't understand, sorry.

Concerning your notes:

NOTE 1: if your XML editor enforces DTD validation, you are using a broken XML
editor.
NOTE 2: but that is already covered by the XML specification.

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Received on Monday, 18 February 2013 13:51:12 UTC