HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language) are both markup languages
used to create web pages, but there are some differences between them:
- Syntax: HTML is a more lenient language and allows for some flexibility in the syntax, while XHTML is a stricter language with a more rigid syntax. XHTML requires all tags to be properly nested and closed, and all attribute values to be enclosed in quotation marks.
- Validation: Because of its stricter syntax rules, XHTML is considered to be a more “valid” language than HTML. XHTML documents can be validated against a DTD (Document Type Definition) or an XML schema, ensuring that the document is well-formed and adheres to certain standards.
- Parsing: HTML parsers are typically more forgiving and can handle errors in the markup, while XHTML parsers are more strict and will generate errors if the markup is not well-formed.
- MIME type: XHTML documents are served with an XML MIME type, while HTML documents are served with a text/html MIME type.
- Compatibility: Older web browsers may have difficulty rendering XHTML documents, as they are designed to be served as XML. HTML is generally more compatible with a wider range of browsers.
Overall, XHTML is seen as a more modern and well-structured language than HTML, but it requires more attention to detail in terms of syntax and validation.