Central Washington University XHTML References main content
Since the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops specifications, guidelines, software, and tools for HTML, it is a good place to begin searching for technical information. They maintain a XHTML Page with pointers to their current HTML 4.01 specifications, guidelines on how to use HTML to the best effect, and pointers to related work at W3C. Their global structure of an HTML document provides a nice summary of a web page.
By the way, the first time you try to read W3C's specifications, they may appear hard to understand. Well, they are. Before giving up, read through How to Read W3C Specs. This article does not make reading specs easy, but at least you will understand the purpose, style, and key terms used by W3C.
For the newest Web developer, Dave Raggett's Getting started with HTML tutorial is available on the W3C site. For XHTML, I have found Webmonkey's XHTML Overview useful.
Introduction to XHTML, with eXamples written by Web Developer's Virtual Library's founder, Alan Richmond, is a good place to learn what XHTML is all about, why you will want to learn to use it, and where it's going to take the Web. XHTML: The Clean Code Solution by Peter Wiggin explains why XHTML is a much-needed, and easy-to-learn solution, for tightening up our HTML code.
Search the Web and you will find hundred of HTML references. Google's directory of XHTML links is a good place to look for pointers and tutorials.
For those of you who like your schooling online, check out W3Schools.com's welcome to XHTML School series of lessons. Take their XHTML Quiz and see where you stand.
An easy XHTML and CSS tutorial is available from the branch libraries of The New York Public Library.