[Bug 21896] New: Require non-empty URL for @cite, and let empty @cite (like empty @src) be without effect

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=21896

            Bug ID: 21896
           Summary: Require non-empty URL for @cite, and let empty @cite
                    (like empty @src) be without effect
    Classification: Unclassified
           Product: HTML WG
           Version: unspecified
          Hardware: PC
               URL: http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/mult
                    ipage/grouping-content.html#attr-blockquote-cite
                OS: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: HTML5 spec
          Assignee: dave.null@w3.org
          Reporter: xn--mlform-iua@xn--mlform-iua.no
        QA Contact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
                CC: mike@w3.org, public-html-admin@w3.org,
                    public-html-wg-issue-tracking@w3.org,
                    xn--mlform-iua@xn--mlform-iua.no

+++ A HTMLwg clone of the WHATwg Bug #21895 +++

(Initial) discussion:

http://lists.whatwg.org/pipermail/whatwg-whatwg.org/2013-May/039491.html

PROBLEM:

* The meaning of an empty citation link, is unclear.
* It also seems to have no use case.

PROPOSAL:

* Require non-empty URL for @cite attribute (of q, blockquote, ins, or del)
* Let empty @cite (like empty @src) be without effect

* Alternatively: Define clearly what the meaning of an empty @cite is and how
it should be handled.

JUSTIFICTION:

* There is now a presedence for how HTML handles empty @src
* There seems to be no use case for empty @cite.
* For a use, or script, to follow an empty citation link, would only be
confusing.

Btw, if possible, @cite and @longdesc ought to work the same way in these
details. Thus let me mention that for longdesc then:

* implementations ignore @longdesc when empty. [1]
* proposal is that @longdesc spec blesses that behavior [1]

[1] https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=21778

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Received on Wednesday, 1 May 2013 21:38:08 UTC