Design: Technical: Standards

Standards keep the Internet functioning efficiently. There are standards related to hardware, software, graphics, email, and almost everything related to the Internet. Standards usually start with a new invention or tool. As people start using this new thing in different ways, people get together to talk about a standard everyone can agree upon. Sometimes standards are created by large agencies or governments. Other times they are pushed by companies with particular products.

Open standards are published so everyone can access and use them. For example HTML is available to everyone. Open standards encourage expansion and use. Proprietary standards are owned by a company and licensed to specific users for a profit. Sometimes these catch on, but at other times they are abandoned in favor of open standards.

Read the off-site article Examining the Role of DeFacto Standards on the Web by Heidi Adkisson in Boxes and Arrows.

It's a good idea to create a list of things you need to remember regarding web standards. This includes a vocabulary list of words and definitions.

Learn More

Standards and Communication - Discusses the most common web development standards.

Web Standards Project - Provides resources and opinions related to web technology standards.

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