HTML development stopped way back in 1999 with HTML 4 when W3C focused its efforts on changing the syntax of HTML from Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) to XML, as well as completely new markup languages like Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), XForms, and MathML. And browser vendors focused more on browser features like tabs and RSS readers. Then Web designers started learning CSS and the JavaScript™ language to develop their own web applications on top of the existing frameworks using Asynchronous JavaScript + XML (Ajax). But HTML itself grew hardly at all in the next eight years.

But recently, three of the major browser vendors—Apple, Opera, and the Mozilla Foundation—came together as the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WhatWG) to develop an upgraded version of the classic HTML the HTML5.

So What’s with HTML5?

HTML5 is the next generation of HTML. More than just the markup syntax like its predecessors, HTML5 provides a new set of features designed to make modern web applications work more like desktop applications. Also HTML 5 is being developed as the next major revision of HTML. This code can now be used for new functions that can benefit developers and internet users. HTML 5 introduces a number of new elements and attributes. Here are the most important of them:

• Canvass Elements – The canvass elements can be used for rendering graphs, game graphics or other visual images on the fly. All done without having to rely on plug-ins.
• Video Embedding – Embedding video used to be impossible without any third-party software plug-ins. But thanks to the new video element its now never the issue. It is intended by the developers to become the new standard way to stream videos
• Geolocation – Locating a user is actually not a new thing in web. In fact, IP address detection is used through web sites, but this is not always reliable. But with HTML5’s Geolocation the developers can pinpoint a user’s location. The main idea behind this was to get the location information from Wi-Fi towers and GPS.
• Offline Web Applications – this feature enables users to continue working and interacting with applications or documents on the web even their network connection is unavailable. For example users can access their emails locally without having to connect to the internet.

Does Current Browsers Already Supports HTML5?

Each browser has its own rules and characteristics that differ between versions and brands. And each one is adopting HTML5 at its own rate. The illustration below shows how well versions of browsers support the new features of HTML5 and how much they are already prepared for the coming transition of HTML5.

How Does This Matter to Us?

You will notice that daily web activities such as uploading your videos to your blog and finding specific store in your browser on your smart phone will become easier. This means you can have a rich experience on a light portable universal platform.

Undeniably that HTML5 is still in the development phase, however it is already gaining popularity and attention among web developers, and it’s going to be doing a whole lot more than just playing videos on your mobile phone.

1. 

   Devin

   Ah now I get it. Great Info.

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