Glossary
Last reviewed/updated: 08 Sep 2017 | Published: 01 May 2015 | Status: Active
- An element in the same branch as, and one or more levels above, another element in the HTML document tree. Compare with descendant.
- An element's parent, its parent's parent, its parent's parent's parent, etc.
- A characteristic of content defined by HTML.
- Those related to style, except for the
classandstyleattributes, are deprecated or obsoleted from HTML as being replaced by CSS. - Syntax:
<element attribute="value">content</element>. - Examples:
face,color,size,class, andstyle. - A generic term referring to an attribute and value pair.
- A person who writes (i.e., authors) web documents. Compare with user and user agent.
- One of the three sources of style. See author styles.
- Styles written by an author. Compare with user styles and user agent styles.
- Includes embedded style sheets, external style sheets, imported style sheets, and inline styles.
- The list of author style rules associated with a web page, replacing any links to external style sheets with the external style sheets, themselves, and replacing any
@importstatements with the external style sheets to be imported, themselves. Compare with user styles list - Created by the Cascade.
- An element type in which content is physically separated (i.e., blocked off) from adjacent content as if preceded and followed by a line break. Compare with inline element.
- Examples:
h1,p,ol,ul,table,form, anddiv.
- The element that is the root (i.e., origin) and ancestor of content. Compare with
html, element.
Something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding.
- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, 2001.- A component of a user agent.
- For each web page: 1.) processes author styles, if present, into an author styles list, and user styles, if present, into a user styles list; 2.) merges the user agent styles, author styles list, if present, and user styles list, if present; 3.) resolves style conflicts; and 4.) creates a master style sheet whose styles the user agent's rendering engine applies to content in the web browser window.
- Also: 1.) allows user agent styles, author styles, and user styles to simultaneously style content; 2.) allows author styles and user styles to be partial styles (i.e., author styles and user styles need only assign the styles to add to, or change from, the user agent styles); 3.) provides modularity (i.e., authors, instead of needing to create a single large style sheet encompassing an entire web page/site, can think of their web pages/sites as consisting of sections (i.e., modules) each getting its own module-specific style sheet); and 4.) provides author/user balance (i.e., a mechanism for author styles to override user styles and, conversely, for user styles to override author styles).
- An element in the same branch as, and one level below, another element in the HTML document tree.
- An element that is contained within (i.e., enclosed by) another element. Compare with parent.
- The descendant that is only one level below another element in the HTML document tree.
- The attribute for attaching style to content via the class-name value and the class-name selector. Compare with
style, HTML. - A generic term referring to the
classattribute, and/or the class-name value, and/or the class-name selector.
- An element with the
classattribute assigned a class-name in markup. - Syntax:
<element class="class-name">content</element>.
- An author declared name that is used as a selector. Compare with class-name, HTML.
- Syntax:
.class-name { declaration block }.
- An author declared name that is assigned as the value to a
classattribute. Compare with class-name, CSS - Syntax:
<element class="class-name">content</element>.
- See source code.
- To write source code.
- Text in a style sheet that is not interpreted by, and, therefore, is ignored by, a user agent.
- Typically serve as a note/reminder (i.e., comment) about the surrounding, interpreted code.
- Preceded by forward slash and asterisk (/*) characters and followed by asterisk and forward slash (*/) characters.
- Are single line; meaning, they can wrap, but cannot span multiple lines.
- Syntax:
selector { declaration block } /* CSS comment at the end of a line. */
/* CSS comment at the start of a line. */
- The text, links, images, etc. that appear in the web browser window upon which HTML structure and CSS style is applied.
- That between an HTML document's
<body></body>tags apart from the markup.
- Across web browsers.
- Of or pertaining to various web browsers.
- That which allows web pages to appear and function identically, or without significant difference, in various web browsers.
- Related to; 1.) the capabilities of various web browsers, 2.) the author's knowledge of the capabilities of various web browsers, and 3.) the author's ability to write HTML documents and style sheets that appear and function identically, or without significant difference, in various web browsers.
- Cascading Style Sheets.
- The web language for styling (i.e., changing the presentation of) content.
- The web language that defines style and the syntax for attaching style to content.
- The web language in which style is attached to content for the purpose of refining the presentation of content.
- The web page content presentation language.
- See external style sheet.
- A style.
- Consists of a property and value pair. Compare with attribute.
- Syntax:
selector { property-one: value-one; property-two: value-two; property-three: value-three } /* Style rule with three declarations (i.e., styles). */
- One of the two parts of a style rule. Compare with selector.
- Assigns one or more styles to a selector.
- Consists of one or more declarations, each declaration representing a style.
- Syntax:
selector { declaration-one; declaration-two; declaration-three } /* Declaration block with three declarations. */
- Elements and attributes defined by a W3C HTML Recommendation that are designated to be obsoleted from future W3C HTML Recommendations as being replaced by CSS. Compare with obsolete.
- Elements and attributes that user agents are encouraged to support until they become obsoleted.
- An element in the same branch as, and one or more levels below, another element in the HTML document tree. Compare with ancestor.
- An element's children, its children's children, its children's children's children, etc.
- Document Type Definition.
- The part of a W3C HTML Recommendation that defines the language's proper usage, including, but not limited to, the valid elements, attributes, and value types.
- The pseudo-class type for attaching style to content (which, by default, includes links) based on the content's state with respect to user interaction with the content. Compare with link pseudo-class.
- States include: 1.)
:hover, for attaching style to content with the mouse cursor placed over it; 2.):active, for attaching style to content between the mouse down click and the mouse up click; and 3.):focus, for attaching style to content ready to accept input.
- An HTML structure type attached to content through the use of markup.
- A selector. Compare with class-name, CSS and pseudo-class.
- Divided into two types; 1.) block-level elements, and 2.) inline elements.
- Examples:
body,h1,p,ol,ul,table,form,div,a,em,i,strong,b,img, andspan.
- A.k.a., inline style sheet.
- A style sheet located inside (i.e., embedded within) an HTML document. Compare with external style sheet and imported style sheet.
- Style rules inside
<style type="text/css"></style>tags placed in the<head></head>section of an HTML document. - Written by authors.
- A style sheet located outside (i.e., external to) an HTML document. Compare with embedded style sheet and imported style sheet.
- Style rules in a text file having a .css file extension.
- A style sheet associated with (i.e., linked to) an HTML document by adding the line,
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="anyFileName.css" />, where the value assigned to thehrefattribute is an absolute or relative path to an external style sheet, anyFileName.css, to the<head></head>section of an HTML document. Written by authors. - A style sheet attached to content via a user agent's Options/Preferences. Written by users.
- The element that is the root (i.e., origin) and ancestor of all other elements in an HTML document. Compare with
body.
- HyperText Markup Language.
- The web language for adding content to web pages.
- The web language that defines content types, a basic structure for each content type, and the syntax for adding content to a web page.
- The web language in which markup is used to; 1.) add content to a web page, and 2.) impart structural information upon the content. The structural information that markup imparts upon content includes; 1.) a structure type (e.g., heading, paragraph, etc.), and 2.) the demarcation of the starting and ending points for the application of the structure type.
- The web page content and content structure language.
- A.k.a., document tree.
- A diagram of the elements that constitute an HTML document. The diagram is similar in shape to a tree in that it has a root and branches. By convention, though, the root is placed at the top of the diagram.
- Depicts and is frequently used to define the terms, parent, child, sibling, ancestor, descendant, and inheritance.
- An external style sheet inserted (i.e., imported) into an embedded style sheet, external style sheet, or imported style sheet. Compare with embedded style sheet and external style sheet.
- Written by authors and users.
- The transferring of style from ancestors to descendants and the receiving of style by descendants from ancestors.
Some inline elements (e.g.,
em, i, strong, and b) are more related to style than structure, which contradicts the definition of an element as an HTML structure type. It makes sense, though, that the W3C has retained these old, stylistically simple, frequently used, and easy to deploy elements instead of obsoleting them as being replaced by CSS.- A.k.a., text-level element.
- An element type in which content remains besides (i.e., inline with) adjacent content. Compare with block-level element.
- Examples:
a,em,i,strong,b,img, andspan.
- A style attached to content via the
styleattribute assigned a value whose syntax mimics that of a declaration block, minus the braces. - Syntax:
<element style="property: value">content</element>.
- The collection of servers, clients, connections between them, and any additional hardware and software that forms the global internetwork over which various types of data, including that which constitutes web pages, travel.
- The pseudo-class type for attaching style to links based on the link's state with respect to user interaction with the links. Compare with dynamic pseudo-class.
- States include: 1.)
:link, for attaching style to unvisited links; and 2.):visited, for attaching style to visited links.
- A.k.a., tags.
- An HTML construct through which two types of structural information are attached to content; 1.) a structure type (e.g., heading, paragraph, etc.), and 2.) the demarcation of the starting and ending points for the application of the structure type.
- Typically consists of a less-than sign (<) character, an element, optional attributes, and a greater-than sign (>) character to form an opening tag that demarcates the starting point for the application of the element's structure type and optional attributes to content, and a less-than sign (<) character, a forward slash (/) character, an element, and a greater-than sign (>) character to form a closing tag that demarcates the ending point for the application of the element's structure type and optional attributes to content.
- Syntax: 1.)
<element>content</element>, without an attribute, and 2.)<element attribute="value">content</element>, with an attribute.
- Elements and attributes, typically created by web browser vendors, that are not defined by a W3C HTML Recommendation.
- Elements and attributes that are no longer defined by a W3C HTML Recommendation. Compare with deprecated.
- Elements and attributes that user agents might support, but are no longer encouraged to support.
- An element in the same branch as, and one level above, another element in the HTML document tree.
- An element that contains (i.e., encloses) one or more elements. Compare with child.
- The ancestor that is only one level above another element in the HTML document tree.
- One of the two parts of a declaration. Compare with value, CSS.
- A characteristic of content defined by CSS.
- Examples:
font-family,color, andfont-size.
- A selector. Compare with class-name, CSS and element.
- A mechanism defined by the W3C CSS Recommendations, reminiscent of the
classattribute, but HTML independent (hence,pseudo
-class), for attaching style to content based on the content's state with respect to user interaction with the content. - Divided into two types; 1.) link pseudo-classes, and 2.) dynamic pseudo-classes.
- Short for W3C Recommendation.
...a specification or set of guidelines that, after extensive consensus building, has received the endorsement of W3C Members and the Director. W3C recommends the wide deployment of its Recommendations. Note: W3C Recommendations are similar to the standards published by other organizations.
- W3C.- A document published by the W3C that defines a web language and its proper usage.
- A.k.a., layout engine.
- The component of a user agent that renders.
- The element that is the root (i.e., origin) and ancestor of all other elements in a web document.
- In HTML documents, the
htmlelement.
- One of the two parts of a style rule. Compare with declaration block.
- The element(s), and/or class-name(s), and/or pseudo-class(es) to which a style rule applies.
- The bridge (i.e., common denominator or link) between a style rule and an HTML document via which style is attached to content.
- One of two or more elements one level below the same element in the HTML document tree.
- One of two or more elements contained within (i.e., enclosed by) the same element.
- One of two or more children of the same parent.
- The text, itself, that constitutes a web document or web page.
- A W3C Recommendation or a document of a similar nature published by a different organization that defines a web language and its proper usage.
- A W3C Recommendation or a document of a similar nature published by a different organization that is widely implemented by user agents, authors, and users.
- The coarse layout/presentation of content as provided by HTML. Compare with style, CSS.
- To coarsely layout/present content via HTML.
- Includes headings, paragraphs, ordered lists, tables, forms, etc.
- A generic term referring to HTML and/or elements.
- The refined layout/presentation of content as provided by CSS. Compare with structure.
- To refine the layout/presentation of content via CSS.
- Includes fonts, colors, borders, margins, padding, etc.
- Consists of a property and value pair, each of which constitutes a declaration.
- A generic term referring to CSS, and/or one or more style sheets, and/or one or more style rules, and/or one or more selectors, and/or one or more declaration blocks, and/or one or more declarations, and/or one or more properties, and/or one or more values.
- The attribute for attaching an inline style to content. Compare with
class. - An attribute added to the W3C HTML 4.0 Recommendation as part of its support for the W3C CSS1 Recommendation.
- Two or more styles attached to content in the same web page having the same selector, the same property, but different values.
- Can occur: 1.) between the user agent styles, and/or author styles list, and/or user styles list; and 2.) within the author styles list and/or user styles list.
- A.k.a., rule.
- The basic CSS unit attached to content for the purpose of styling content.
- Consists of a selector and a declaration block.
- Syntax:
selector { declaration block }.
- A collection of style rules.
- Includes three types; 1.) embedded style sheets, 2.) external style sheets, and 3.) imported style sheets.
- See markup.
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- A more technically correct term for URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
- A string that identifies a resource (i.e., web site, web page, image, downloadable file, service, etc.) accessible over the Internet.
- Example: http://www.learnwebcoding.com/.
- A.k.a., reader.
- A person employing a user agent to interact with web pages/sites. Compare with author and user agent.
- One of the three sources of style. See user styles.
- A.k.a., UA, web browser.
- An application (i.e., agent) employed by users to interact with web pages/sites.
- An application that renders web pages.
- One of the three sources of style. See user agent styles.
- Examples: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Opera.
- A.k.a., user agent default styles.
- Styles built into a user agent. Compare with author styles and user styles.
- Define and provide the structure types associated with HTML elements.
- Are merged with author styles, if present, and user styles, if present, in styling content.
- In the absence of author styles and user styles, the only (i.e., default) styles applied to content.
- Typically partially editable via the user agent's Options/Preferences.
- Styles written by a user. Compare with author styles and user agent styles.
- Allow users, particularly those with accessibility requirements, to style content.
- Require a user agent whose Options/Preferences allow the user to link their own external style sheet to content.
- Includes external style sheets and imported style sheets.
- The list of user style rules associated with a web page, replacing any
@importstatements with the external style sheets to be imported, themselves. Compare with author styles list. - Created by the Cascade.
- That which conforms with a web language's proper usage as defined by a W3C Recommendation.
- One of the two parts of a declaration. Compare with property.
- A specific option of a characteristic of content that can be assigned to a property. Compare with value, HTML.
- Examples:
arial,#000000,12px.
- One of the two parts of an attribute.
- A specific option of a characteristic of content that can be assigned to an attribute. Compare with value, CSS.
- Examples:
arial,#000000,12px.
- The World Wide Web Consortium.
An international consortium where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop web standards.
- W3C.- Mission:
To lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.
- W3C.
- See WWW.
- See user agent.
- The part of a user agent where rendered web pages are displayed.
- A text file written in a one or more web languages having a web language's associated file extension.
- Examples: HTML documents (.htm or .html) and CSS documents (.css).
- A language for writing/authoring web documents.
- Examples: CSS, HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, Perl, and PHP.
- That which is displayed in the web browser window when a user agent is directed to a web page/site.
- Consists of one or more web documents. For example, a web page might consist of multiple HTML documents and multiple CSS documents.
- A location (i.e., site) on the WWW consisting of one or more web pages.
- Example: www.learnwebcoding.com.