Amazon.com
It's important for anyone who creates Web sites--even those who rely on powerful editors like Dreamweaver or GoLive--to know HTML. The World Wide Web Consortium rewrote HTML as a subset of XML (dubbing it "XHTML 1.0") and the allowable code will eventually be stricter. Tags that are being phased out are labeled "deprecated"--current browsers can still handle them, but if you want your site to keep up with future browsers, not to mention conform to accessibility requirements, you will want to get on top of XHTML.

Of course, Elizabeth Castro manages to write books that not only speak to those who are already fluent in HTML, but are good for newbies too. She makes it a breeze to create sites that are visually stylish and technically sophisticated without the expense of buying an editor.

Among the topics covered in her new book, HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS: using the (relatively newer) structural tags (like doctype and div); correctly using older tags (like p and img) that have been modified in XHTML; writing XHTML so that formatting is done by the style sheets; writing those style sheets (cascading style sheets, a.k.a. "CSS"); creating a variety of layouts; and dealing with tables, frames, forms, multimedia, a bit of JavaScript (including mouseovers), WML (for mobile device displays), debugging, publishing, and publicizing your site.

As with all Visual QuickStart Guides, this one features clear and concise instructionsside by side with well-captioned illustrations and screen shots that show both the source code and the resulting effect on the Web page. The index is extremely detailed, making this a great reference.

Also great for reference are the outstanding appendices. The first is an extensive list of tags and attributes, indicating which are deprecated and/or proprietary and on which page they are discussed. A similar appendix shows CSS properties and values; given the future of Web coding, this chart alone is worth the price of the book. Other handy charts cover intrinsic events, symbols and character Unicodes, and an expanded color chart that goes way beyond the virtually archaicWeb-safe palette. All of which makes this a definite must-have for every Web designer's bookshelf.--Angelynn GrantBook Description
Need to learn HTML fast? This best-selling reference's visual formatand step-by-step, task-based instructions will have you up and runningwith HTML in no time. In this completely updated edition of ourbest-selling guide to HTML, Web expert and best-selling authorElizabeth Castro uses crystal-clear instructions and friendly prose tointroduce you to all of today's HTML and XHTML essentials. You’ll learnhow to design, structure, and format your Web site. You'll create anduse images, links, styles, lists, tables, frames, and forms, and you'lladd sound and movies to your site. Finally, you will test and debugyour site, and publish it to the Web. Along the way, you'll findextensive coverage of CSS techniques, current browsers (Opera, Safari,Firefox), creating pages for the mobile Web, and more.

Visual QuickStart Guide--the quick and easy way to learn!

• Easy visual approach uses pictures to guide you through HTML and show you what to do.
• Concise steps and explanations get you up and running in no time.
• Page for page, the best content and value around.
• Companion Web site at www.cookwood.com/html offers examples, a lively question-and-answer area, updates, and more.

Customer Reviews (156)

Good guide with lots of color photo examples
I'm just starting to learn HTML and find this book to be helpful. This book was recommended by my professor as well.

HTML, XHTML, and CSS Guide
This book arrived quick and in new condition.It has been a real help for my class at school this semester (and WAY less expensive than if I had bought it at the school bookstore)...Thanks!

HTML Review
Very good book. Offers very detailed examples which you can write and will work as described.Its divided in sections so you know what to look for. Very great examples which is good for beginners which I am and it seems relatively easy. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learnign HTML, XHTML and CSS.

Not great.
This book was "recommended" for a class I was taking at the local JC called web page tips and tricks. It has a few interesting ideas however it condones using deprecated tags such as blockquote, , b,i, and the like. After doing a lot of XHTML and CSS, this is a backward step and I don't know why it was even recommended for the class as it is really rather out of date.

My book for Intro to Web Design
This is the class text for my Intro to Web Design at the University of Louisville and it's really a good tool to have when trying to learn the basics of building websites.I use it as a reference between class meetings when I get stuck on a topic.Very easy to understand and pretty straight forward.The language of web design was like Greek to me and this book is helping me understand things a little better.
I would recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description
Tired of reading HTML books that only make sense after you're an expert? Then it's about time you picked up Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML and really learned HTML. You want to learn HTML so you can finally create those web pages you've always wanted, so you can communicate more effectively with friends, family, fans, and fanatic customers. You also want to do it right so you can actually maintain and expand your Web pages over time, and so your web pages work in all the browsers and mobile devices out there. Oh, and if you've never heard of CSS, that's okay - we won't tell anyone you're still partying like it's 1999 - but if you're going to create Web pages in the 21st century then you'll want to know and understand CSS.

Learn the real secrets of creating Web pages, and why everything your boss told you about HTML tables is probably wrong (and what to do instead). Most importantly, hold your own with your co-worker (and impress cocktail party guests) when he casually mentions how his HTML is now strict, and his CSS is in an external style sheet.

With Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML, you'll avoid the embarrassment of thinking web-safe colors still matter, and the foolishness of slipping a font tag into your pages. Best of all, you'll learn HTML and CSS in a way that won't put you to sleep. If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect: a visually-rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, this book will load HTML, CSS, and XHTMLinto your brain in a way that sticks.

So what are you waiting for? Leave those other dusty books behind and come join us in Webville. Your tour is about to begin.

Customer Reviews (199)

Fantastic Book
I finished this book in only a few weeks it was so engaging. I couldn't believe a book on code could be that interesting and I was able to jump right in to designing pages and using the book as a reference.

a no no
i bought this item because the reviews were great. then i returned the item 3 days later. this book is not for regular people. it is written as if the reader has just seen the computer a month ago and doesnt even know how the web works.it wastes a lot of time explaining in layman terms. and i dont know if it is a html book or how the web or business works tutorial. even on that it fails miserably.if u dont have a simplest of ideas abt computer or web, this is not the one to start. and if u have some, this is not where u would want to start.for someone who has some ideas, there are lot of better books out there.it would not be ethical to name them here. write me if u want the names. one better way is to do some research . some websites, they allow u to see some sample pages from the book. even a couple of pages, and u will know how goood the book is.

if u belong to the other half, the ones who are trying to get into the computer and web world,its not a good idea to go to designing webpages right away. if u want a webpage just for fun/hobby or really small businesses and have a really small budget, there are lots of sites out there who provide real html templates for prices lesser than this book.
i can tell u some if u write me. again its not right to advertise someone here.u can do some research. u will find plenty.or u can go to a website that resembles ur ideal site, click on the "page" tab of ur browser window and click on "view source". on the new text window that opens, u can find the designer's web site address.

Head First, Over and Over again
I love this book, it is very well written. This book does not follow the normal trend of today's textbooks.This is a fantastic interactive learning book.I will definitely be picking up some more of these "Head First" books.Think HTML for dummies, ITS AWESOME!

Good Introduction to HTML and CSS
If you're a newbie looking for step-by-step training in coding with HTML and CSS, this is your book. Funny, entertaining, and clearly written, it patiently walks you through the process of crafting web pages.The one drawback I might mention is that because the book deliberately leads you down blind alleys in order to make you back up and do things correctly, it's a bigger book than it needs to be for the purpose.If you're a "cut the crap, get to the point" kind of learner, this might not appeal.

Also, it gives only an introduction to CSS.There's much more to CSS than this book shows, because it's intended as an introductory course.You'll need another book (I recommend O'Reilly's "HTML & XHTML") to serve as a comprehensive reference.

Great start for beginners!
This book has a funny way, yet clear way to introduce to difficult
topic of HTML. It's easy to follow and each detail is explained for the analytical mind! I would recommend this book for a beginner who enjoys a humorous way of learning! ... Read more

Amazon.com
In the most recent edition of this acclaimed HTML guide, Musciano and Kennedy look closely at every aspect of HTML and show how to use it wisely to create top-quality Web pages. The book is up-to-date, covering HTML 4, Netscape Navigator 4, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4, and the various extensions of each.

HTML: The Definitive Guide is aimed at beginners as well as those who have more practice in Web-page creation. The authors assume at least a basic knowledge of computers, including how to use a word processor or text editor and how to deal with files. They teach you that learning HTML is like learning any other language and that reading a book of rules can only take you so far. Readers begin writing what may be their first Web page just two pages into the book's second chapter. From there on, they provide a wide range of HTML coding to allow readers to learn from good examples. The book includes a handy "cheat sheet" of HTML codes for quick reference. --Elizabeth LewisBook Description
Netscape Navigator 4.0! Internet Explorer 4.0! HTML 3.2! JavaScript! Style sheets! Layers! HTML is changing so fast it's almost impossible to keep up with developments. How do you know what's real, and how do you use it? This book brings it all together for you. HTML: The Definitive Guide is the most comprehensive book available on HTML today. It covers the latest standard, HTML 3.2, and all of the features supported by every popular Web browser, including the latest editions of Netscape and Internet Explorer.

Learning HTML is like learning any new language, computer or human. Most students first immerse themselves in examples. Studying others is a natural way to learn, making learning easy and fun. Imitation can take you only so far, though. It's as easy to learn bad habits through imitation as it is to acquire good ones. The better way to become HTML-fluent is through a comprehensive reference that covers the language syntax, semantics, and variations in detail and helps you distinguish between good and bad usage.

HTML: The Definitive Guide helps you both ways: the authors cover everyelement of HTML in detail, explaining how each element works andhow it interacts with other elements. Many hints about HTML stylehelp you accomplish a variety of tasks, from simple onlinedocumentation to complex marketing and sales presentations. Withhundreds of examples, the book gives you models for writing yourown effective Web pages and mastering advanced features, like stylesheets and frames.

HTML: The Definitive Guide shows you how to:

• Use style sheets and layers to control a document's appearance
• Create tables, from simple to complex
• Use Netscape's frames to coordinate sets of documents
• Design and build interactive forms
• Insert images, sound files, video, applets, and JavaScript programs
• Create dynamic documents with server-push and client-pull

A handy quick reference card listing HTML tags is included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (142)

A Reference Book, not a Textbook
Don't make the mistake of thinking this book will teach you how to code web pages using HTML and CSS.This is a reference manual that exhaustively discusses the mechanics of coding web pages, but it doesn't walk you through the process step by step.For that, I recommend O'Reilly's "Head First: HTML with CSS & XHTML."The benefit of this book is that it covers every aspect of HTML and CSS, including some which the W3 consortium has approved but no browser yet supports. It's best as a reference book for those already familiar with web page coding. It's full of surprises and "I didn't know I could do that!" moments, given its comprehensiveness.

I use it everyday - the older version
I have the 3rd edition and use it most everyday in my job. I figured it would be a bit outdated so I bought this latest version. The new version is essentially the exact same as the old version and I feel like I wasted my money. It's also missing the handy quick reference the older version had. However, if you don't have an earlier version, I would definitely recommend it. It's indispensable.

Yup, it's definitive (complete)
I wanted a complete reference & guide to html/xhtml and that's what I got. I didn't want to be ignorant about any features. I didn't want to be left in the dark about anything. This book has all the info I wanted, and much more. In fact in a way it has too much info. It has info about tags, attributes, and other features that are obsolete, deprecated, or not supported by any browsers. You can skip over those rather than slogging your way through every word in the book. Maybe it's just me, but one downside to this book for me is that the writing style tends to be convoluted, verbose, and somewhat boring. I had some difficulty staying focused and concentrating on this book. But since it fulfilled the reason I got this book, I still give it 5 stars. So if you're looking for a complete book, don't worry, it's complete.

Just what's needed for those HTML questions you have...
If you do web development, you should have one solid HTML/XHTML reference guide on your bookshelf.This one ranks up there...HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide (6th Edition) by Chuck Musciano and Bill Kennedy.Although the CSS and XML sections are a little light, the core HTML and XHTML information is all you could ask for.

Contents: HTML, XHTML, and the World Wide Web; Quick Start; Anatomy of an HTML Document; Text Basics; Rules, Images, and Multimedia; Links and Webs; Formatted Lists; Cascading Style Sheets; Forms; Tables; Frames; Executable Content; Dynamic Documents; Mobile Devices; XML; XHTML; Tips, Tricks, and Hacks; HTML Grammar; HTML/XHTML Tag Quick Reference; Cascading Style Sheet Properties Quick Reference; The HTML 4.01 DTD; The XHTML 1.0 DTD; Character Entities; Color Names and Values; Netscape Layout Extensions; Index

This book does a good job in blending a bit of tutorial information with a lot of reference material.All the HTML tags that exist are documented, along with whether it's an extension/deprecated/archaic, what type of browser support is involved in using the tag, and all the attributes and locations where it can be used.I found that I was catching some tags and nuances that I had overlooked in the past, even after having done web coding for many, many years.The book also has material on Cascading Style Sheets and XML, but I found that less useful than the HTML contents.The basics of those two technologies are covered, but not at the level I'd want in a definitive guide.While I think that you can't ignore CSS in an HTML book any more, I just wouldn't recommend this as an "all-in-one" book to cover both.But other than that, this is a book that I'll want to keep around for those strange times when my HTML tags just aren't working like they're supposed to...

Definitive Guide, Indeed
Calling this book "The Definitive Guide" is not a misnomer, for that's what it is. I guess you could learn HTML and XHTML from scratch with this book, but I wouldn't advise it. (If you are just beginning you should check out O'Reilly's "Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML.") Weighing in at over 600 pages means that if it ain't described in here you probably shouldn't be doin' it! And if it is described in here, it's described clearly and accurately. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Hard core programmers would say that HTML is for dummies. Evenso, for those of us who want to build and maintain our own Web sites, but cringeat the sight of anything resembling a programming language, HTML 4 forDummies is the hand-holding guide to help us through those processes.

Because many HTML editors do all the site-building work for you, it's strangethe authors chose to wait until appendix C in the back of the book to explainwhy you must know HTML. Still, their reasons for learning HTML are sound, andthe advice they dispense is solid.

Beyond going through the ins and outs of HTML tags, the book does a fine job ofexplaining what design elements work and how to avoid common mistakes. Thesection on XHTML ensures that budding site builders have all the latest tools attheir disposal.

Whether your goal is to build a simple, text-oriented Web site or one loadedwith frames, graphics, and animation, HTML 4 for Dummies will put you onthe right track. --John Frederick MooreBook Description
Are you fascinated by the look and design of Web pages? Do you wish that you had the knowledge and skills to create a great looking Web site? Whether you’re an up-and-coming Web designer or just an enthusiastic hobbyist, you are probably using HTML, the standard authoring language for the Internet. HTML 4 For Dummies, now in its 5^th edition, will show you the basics of working with this language as well as advanced skills for all-around knowledge.

HTML is used to create Web documents. As a standard issued by the World Wide Web Consortium, it is used by almost everyone to create and edit Web pages. HTML is capable of:

• Creating a Web site
• Inserting designs to a Web page
• Running on both PCs and Macs

Complete with a 6-page tear-out colored reference sheet, HTML 4 For Dummies is the most comprehensive HTML guide yet. Written by a computer expert and author of over 120 books, including the previous editions of the bestselling HTML 4 For Dummies, this straightforward, fun guide will aid you through making and editing beautiful Web pages.Download Description
"* Now features a full-color, six-panel tear-out Cheat Sheet that's packed with information-an HTML command and syntax reference, a chart of Web-safe colors, and an alphabetical listing of CSS elements
* Despite new Web-authoring technologies, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) remains the one fundamental building block of the Web
* Updates to this classic guide include a totally revamped description of XHTML syntax, expanded CSS coverage, and a new section on building navigation elements
* Includes an all-new section of example projects-creating an eBay auction page, designing an online product catalog, and adding multimedia elements to an existing site" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

A baby steps book
This is not a book for jumping into WEB development. It claims to be but itreally is not.

It's a good intro book for HTML for the absolute beginner. But, I must mention you have to be a reader versus an examples person. There is a great deal of discussion and only so much code examples.However, it did answer a couple questions.

I found this book good for getting to know what is out there. The book offers useful links to sites for getting more information. This saved time and it offers a "warm fuzzy" since it is suggested versus wandering around the Net.

The book also suggests some tools to use which again saved a little time.

I don't know if I would call this a good reference book.For example, it lightly touches CSS, XHTML and CGI and the design suggestions?Well you probably could get a design book to handle that better as I think they are rather basic in this book.

If you can get it from the library or get it used, it might be worth a look.

If you understand basic HTML, you might avoid it.

Just another Dummy!
As a novice or someone thinking about working with HTML, I think this book was over my head. If one had some background in HTML they could probably make full/better use of its content. Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections

and I always thought dummies books were for complete beginners...
Caveat emptor to the absolute beginner. This book is not written for the beginning web page creator. It is not written in a tutorial style. It is good as a reference source as you study a true tutorial type book. It discusses tags and their attributes one at a time without showing you how they fit into your web page code. The beginning chapters throw lots of advanced features at you and tell you they will be discussed in chapter 19 etc.
I was completely overwhelmed after 20 min of reading. So what's a beginner to do? I recommend Create Your First Web Page in a Weekend. By the time you get half way through that book then you can use this dummies book as a reference.
william

HTML 4 for Dummies
I found this item to be informative, easy to follow and well worth the price that I paid for it. The book arrived when I expected it.
I would recommend this book, as a starting point, to anyone who is interested in learning HTML.

Excellent book for a purest
I am a big fan of the "For Dummies" series and this book is no exception.The information in this book is best for someone who wants to create a web page literally from scratch and understand the basic tenants behind html.Those interested in creating a professional looking web page quickly should skip this book and refer to "Creating Web Pages for Dummies" which helps navigate the plethora of tools available for web page designers.

This book serves as an exceptional guide and as a reference. ... Read more

Book Description
After years of using spacer GIFs, layers of nested tables, and other improvised solutions for building your web sites, getting used to the more stringent "standards-compliant" design that is de rigueur among professionals today can be intimidating.

With standards-driven design, keeping style separate from content is not just a possibility but a reality. You no longer use HTML and XHTML as design tools, but strictly as ways to define the meaning and structure of web content. And Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are no longer just something interesting to tinker with, but a reliable method for handling all matters of presentation, from fonts and colors to page layout. When you follow the standards, both the site's design and underlying code are much cleaner. But how do you keep all those HTML and XHTML tags and CSS values straight?

Jennifer Niederst-Robbins, the author of our definitive guide on standards-compliant design, Web Design in a Nutshell, offers you the perfect little guide when you need answers immediately: HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference. This revised and updated new edition takes the top 20% of vital reference information from her Nutshell book, augments it judiciously, cross-references everything, and organizes it according to the most common needs of web developers. The result is a handy book that offers the bare essentials on web standards in a small, concise format that you can use carry anywhere for quick reference. This guide will literally fit into your back pocket.

Inside HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference, you'll find instantly accessible alphabetical listings of every element and attribute in the HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 Recommendations. This is an indispensable reference for any serious web designer, author, or programmer who needs a fast on-the-job resource when working with established web standards.

Customer Reviews (11)

Got my book!
The product got there 2 days earlier than other items I ordered the same day. The condition was good.

Easy to Use
After I figured out there structure of displaying information, this tool has become a valuable asset. Definately recommend.

No index?
What kind of a reference book doesn't have an index? Sure, the tag reference is in alphabetical order, but that only helps if you remember what the tag is. Also, I had a brain fart this morning and couldn't remember the exact syntax for a comment (I work with way too many languages)- couldn't find it. That's what a pocket reference is supposed to be for, the little things you can't remember!

DSM IV Made Easy
This is an excellent text and well illustrated.I am sure an updated edition will come out soon.

No index?
I'm a big fan of the O'Reilly Pocket Reference series, but this one was a bit disappointing.While the basic content is there, the book is less than 100 pages and seems to only be a wrapper for three tables defining the common elements, character entities, and colors.Only the first five pages attempt to provide any foundation for the tables.Missing are more general references on forms, tables, scripting or even techniques for relative/absolute addressing.Probably most surprising was the lack of an index.For a pocket reference, that seems a pretty major oversight. ... Read more

Book Description
Build Your Own Website The Right Way Using HTML & CSS teaches web development from scratch, without assuming any previous knowledge of HTML, CSS or web development techniques. This book introduces you to HTML and CSS as you follow along with the author, step-by-step, to build a fully functional web site from the ground up.

However, unlike countless other "learn web design" books, this title concentrates on modern, best-practice techniques from the very beginning, which means you'll get it right the first time. The web sites you'll build will:

Book Description
This highly-anticipated new edition of the best-selling text Creating Web Pages with HTML uses the New Perspectives Series’ signature case-based, problem-solving approach to teach users how to create simple to advanced Web sites using HTML and XHTML. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent
This book is awesome if you want to learn HTML.It is explicit and easy to understand and walks you through step by step.Even a novice with no HTML experience can easily understand.I would highly recommend this book.

A Typical Course Technology Book -- Skip It!
Do your students a favor and skip this book which is too long, too wordy, and has case studies that the students would be hard-pressed to recreate on their own.

Very helpful teaching tool
This was a required textbook for a XHTML class I am taking at a local community college.I have been very impressed with this book in teaching the elementary art of correct coding.Also helpful are the appendices at the end outlining colors, elements, etc.I have learned a lot from it.

Many Errors, Difficult to Read
This text has many errors and it is difficult to read. The examples are so complicated it would be nearly impossible for someone just starting out to recreate them on their own.

Good book but, had some problems!

I gave this book a 3 star rating because; I had some problems with it.

Some of the problems I found were in:

Tutorial 5 on Frames, the lesson was too vague to apply to the teacher's assignment to do our own frameset.

Tutorial 6 on Forms, the lesson was so difficult to get through, my teacher needed to verify the code order using the teacher's version.

Even though parts of this book were helpful, I would search for other options.

Good Luck, Everyone.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Great Approach For Programmers Wading Thru CSS selector and property elements
Definitely not a first css beginner's book. But, for advanced programmers who think that since they know several languages learning CSS will be easy and then find out....not so much.
This author presents the most complete presentation of all of the interactions between html properties and css selectors I have seen in any one book. Rather than just listing definitions of each element, but going into the myriad of effects that almost all selectors have applied to each property.
He brings programmatic design pattersn to his presentations which is of some use but; the most important thing is he takes a very systematic and detailed approach to the interactions stated above.
IMHO, i would take reviews too focused critically on the use of span tags in the examples with a grain of salt or two. Once you understand interaction between all of the specific CSS selectors and property elements (not that I'm there yet) you can of course use span tags for only presenting inline markup elements.
The real beauty of this book to me is the detailed coverage of the affect of each and every selector (that is applicable) to each and every property element and thus one learns to think outside the box..model.

Very good for people that don't like HTML/CSS/JS
This book will stay on my bookshelf forever because it gives me a working and practical solutions to common problem related to HTML. Personally I hate all that HTML/CSS/JS stuff but as server-side programmer I have to control how the various browser will render my code. With this book I can save my time on real problems and get ready-made solution.

Solid information with Web demos.
I use a book like this for reference. The information is current and examples of the various CSS designs are available online to view. A good reference I would recommend to anyone who is interested in using CSS designs.

Great help for doing CSS
As a CSS newby I found this book to be an excellent help in using CSS. It's packed with examples and clear, detailed explanations of how to accomplish almost everything you could think of using CSS.

Effect-based Solutions
I found this a brilliant product. It delivers techniques to achieve individual *effects* so you can use it straight away. Each effect is explained through the use of screenshots and text, and the book provides the combination of CSS/HTML/Javascript required to make it work. Great when you need a complete answer to solve a specific problem in a hurry.

My other favourite CSS book is "The Art and Science of CSS". This breaks down styling tasks by topic such as Forms, Tables, Navigation, and Images. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Danny Goodman felt that he couldn't trust any of the documentation on Dynamic HTML (DHTML) that he read (too many contradictions), so he wrote this book as a reference for working with his own clients. After testing tags and techniques on multiple releases of the main browsers, Goodman came up with very practical information--some of which you may not find in any other resource.

Goodman assumes a solid foundation, if not expertise, in basic HTML and an understanding of what DHTML is all about. From those assumptions, he presents a meaty, information-dense volume. The first of the book's four sections discusses industry standards and how to apply the basic principles of DHTML. He emphasizes the differences in Web browsers and discusses how to build pages so that they work well in both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. The second section is an extensive, quick reference of all the tags, objects, and properties of HTML, cascading style sheets, Document Object Model, and core JavaScript. A particularly handy cross-reference guide to this information follows, helping you locate it in alternate ways. The final section contains appendices, with useful tables of values and commands. --Elizabeth LewisBook Description
Packed with information on the latest web specifications and browser features, this new edition is your ultimate one-stop resource for HTML, XHTML, CSS, Document Object Model (DOM), and JavaScript development. Here is the comprehensive reference for designers of Rich Internet Applications who need to operate in all modern browsers, including Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, Safari, and Opera.

With this book, you can instantly see browser support for the latest standards-based technologies, including CSS Level 3, DOM Level 3, Web Forms 2.0, XMLHttpRequest for AJAX applications, JavaScript 1.7, and many more. This new edition:

• Provides at-a-glance references for the tags, attributes, objects, properties, methods, and events of HTML, XHTML, CSS, DOM, and core JavaScript. You can quickly look up a particular feature or language term to see if it is available in desired browser brands and versions.
• Includes handy cross referencing that lets you look up an attribute (or object property, method, or event type) to find all the items that recognize it, including interrelated HTML tags, style properties, and document object model methods, properties, and events.
• Offers appendices where you can quickly locate values useful in HTML authoring and scripting. You'll find coverage of commands used across three browsers for user-editable content.
• Includes a glossary that gives you quick explanations of some of the new and potentially confusing terminology of DHTML.

Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference speeds the way to adding sophisticated features to your web pages. Indispensable, complete, and succinct, this bestselling guide is the must-have compendium for all web developers involved in creating dynamic web content.

Customer Reviews (161)

Book Index sucks
I used to have the previous edition. I could quickly find objects and properties in the books index and just go to what I wanted. This new edition doesn't even have the event handling properties such as onmouseover and such. Its also missing some minor properties for css or html. I know the big ones, its the minor ones that i need help on. Its great that it takes into account safari, mozilla and opera compatibility, but they really did a crappy job on the index. Apparently they wanted to safe paper and removed some things from it. so, now I use the old edition and new edition. A big inconvenience.

Awesome
The ONLY DHTML reference you need. This book has everything covered from Javascript, HTML, CSS, DOM, Ajax, Web 2.0. This is the only book that I always have by my side while developing.

The Bible, Third Edition
The finest review of this book I can give is simply this:I bought the first edition in 1999, the second edition in 2003, the third edition in 2007, and as long as Danny Goodman and O'Reilly keep up the good work, I'll buy the fourth edition in 2011.There is no more indispensible book available for the Web GUI professional.

One caveat: This book is not for beginners.If you don't already know how to build a modern DHTML/CSS/JS/Ajax interface, this book will likely be a waste of money.Moreover, if you're looking for how-tos and recipes, look elsewhere.This is a comprehensive encyclopedia of the DHTML universe, nothing more and nothing less.

unfortunately Very Fat book ,but Not For Beginners
I bought this book , and i wait it about 1 month for arrive to me , but i am not lucky , the book contains more than 1300 pages , but i didn't find any thing benefit for me .
I advise any one in beginner Level to keep away from this book .you must save your money .

Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference
If you do any sort of web design, whether as a do-it yourself novice or as a professional web designer, Dynamic HTML is a must have resource. This all inclusive guide includes a myriad of features for design elements, objects, and styles organized in several easy to understand and easy to use sections: Alphabetical HTML Reference, Shared DOM Reference, Alphabetical DOM Reference, Event Reference, CSS Reference, and Java Script Reference, Cross Reference. All of these examples include actually bit of code that the reader can use as well as associated attributes and their code to tailor that element, object, or style to your desired specifications. This aspect allows the reader to follow through virtually step by step taking a new concept from inception through to a professional look and feel.

I can already tell that Dynamic HTML is going to be one of those desk references that I keep close by my computer. The book is already plastered with a number of post-it notes in places that I need to fix on my existing web pages, concepts that want to experiment with in the future, or ways that I could make my websites more accessible. Having a good book with these aspects all in one place is a boon.

Still, where I will probably gain the most valuable use of this book is in the comparative aspect of the entries. Along with each of the detailed entries in all of the categories, the author has included information about how each feature translates in the different browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, Safari, Opera, and W3C HTML). Anyone who has spent weeks making their website just perfect only to have their best buddy with a different type of browser say that it's all wonky knows that a good detailed cross reference resource is invaluable. Having one as well organized and intuitive as this one is nothing short of amazing.

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Book Description
Part of the New Perspectives Series, this text teaches students HTML and XHTML using a simple text editor to create basic to complex Web sites. Advanced tutorials on DHTML help students to further their skills by learning and applying DHTML to make interactive features such as animated text, image rollovers, menus, and expandable outlines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Resource- Albeit Tedious
I needed this book for a class, otherwise I wouldn't even have touched a web design book. (You could learn more from Google, for free.)

However, I did like the level of depth this book went into. It goes beyond the call of duty by even going through javascript- great touch!

The only thing I can brag about is that this book is popular- so the examples and case problems are all online. This makes it easy to get "help" if you didn't have time to do your work.

Without the class, I would still never buy this book. It's too wordy at times, and beats you over the head with what you already know.

I'd say buy it if you need it for a class, otherwise you can skip it.

Confusing and too wordy
This book is confusing and the explanations just go on and on. You can follow this book for pages and not be sure how you ended up with what you did. There are other, easier to read books on XHTML and HTML avaialable.

Very good value
When I through the first few chapters, I liked the book already. First it emphasize that the book only covers coding on Notepad or other text editors. I think that is the best way to learn the language. It doesn't need any HTML editors to do the job. It describes the history of internet and its technologies in some of the chapters. It covers the javascript concepts clearly and shows how things are done, step by step. At the end of each chapter, there are some assignments to enhance understanding. There are hints on how these assignments should be done, step by step also. Sometimes even with the hints, they are not easy to perform, especially for DHTML/Javascript, in many cases, I have to go back to the chapter and re-examine the reasons for writing certain functions, when to call the functions and so forth. This book is suitable for beginners with no HTML knowledge and don't want to code with HTML editors. Thankfully, there are some appendices to the tags used for XHTML, and examined the browser compatibilities also. I print out these appendices to allow me to summarise the book and to carry along. As with most books, this book also contain some errors especially with the answers provided, but it is of little problem if you went through the book thoroughly, you can spot them quite easily. There is another book, "New perspectives on Javascript"by the same author which covers mostly Javascript is not so good value, as a lot of Javascript stuff in that book is already covered here. For more seasoned HTML coders, this book is not so suitable, but if you want to learn new ways of coding to comply with new XHTML standards, you should give this book a look. ... Read more

Book Description
The Essential Guide to CSS and HTML Web Design is a special book—it will tell you all you need to know to design great web sites that are standards compliant, usable, and look great, but not overwhelm you with waffle, theory, and obscure details.It is designed to be invaluable to you, whatever stage you are at in your career, with a mixture of practical tutorials and reference material—beginners will quickly pick up the basics, while more experienced web designers and developers will keep returning to the book again and again to recap on techniques they maybe haven't used for a while, or look up properties, attributes and other details. It is destined to become a close friend, adopting a permanent place on your desk.It starts off by giving a brief introduction to the internet, and the broad area of web design, before diving straight in to HTML and CSS basics, reusing code, other best practices. It then focuses on all the most important areas of a successful web site—typography, images, navigation, tables, layouts, forms and feedback (including ready made PHP scripts for you to use,) and browser quirks, hacks and bugs. The book is completely up-to-date, covering support of the newest standards in all the latest browsers, including IE 7 and Firefox 2.The last chapter of the book provides several case studies for you to dissect and learn from, including all the most popular web site archetypes—a blog, a store front, a corporate home page, and an online gallery.Then the book is rounded off with several detailed reference appendices covering CSS, HTML, Color references, entities, and more, meaning that any details you need to look up are close at hand.

• This book will teach you everything you need to know to create professional CSS and HTML web sites
• Up to date &emdash; covering support of the newest standards in all the latest browsers, including IE 7 and Firefox 2
• Includes practical real world tutorials, essential reference sections, and case studies.

What you'll learn

• The basics of HTML and CSS web design
• How to implement effective layouts, tables, images, navigation, forms and typography on web sites
• How to deal with cross browser issues, including quirks, bugs, and hacks on IE 7 (and older versions,) Firefox, Safari, Opera, and all other major browsers.
• How to make sure your sites are both usable and accessible
• How to implement several different styles of web front-end, through several complete case studies, including a blog, a store front, and an online gallery
• Detailed References are also provided so you don't need to learn every little detail of CSS and HTML

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent css/html design guide
The author promises this book is different. I suppose it is, thanks to the author's friendly and comprehensive approach to the material. This is a surprisingly complete guide for beginning and intermediate CSS designers with a lot of useful answers to practical design problems. For instance, many books discuss how to write a form, but this book tells you how to write a mail form, including the fact that the form won't do anything without script support and where to find that support. It's that level of detail that sets this book apart.

As one would expect, the author begins with the basics, discussing CSS and its benefits. Then, he talks about typography and working with type before moving on to images. He even includes a brief discussion of color theory. He shows how to display random images using both JavaScript and PHP and provides an exhaustive discussion of links and navigation, including some discussion of accessibility. Of course, he discusses tables and the box model before moving on to forms and page testing. He has a coherent discussion of IE issues and using conditionals to call version-specific style sheets. He moves on to discuss creation of an online storefront and business websites, ending with useful XHTML, entities, and CSS references. The book is over 500 pages with many code examples.

I'm sure there are advanced designers who don't need this book; but for the beginner, this book is an excellent place to start. For the intermediate designer, this is a very good reference. I really like Stylin' with CSS: A Designer's Guide (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter) for the author's presentation of information and the book's attractive physical design; but if I am objective and fair, Craig Grannell's "Essential Guide" is the better book. Grannell supplies more information in greater depth over the entire span of CSS design. So, beginning and intermediate designers who buy this book will not be disappointed. Thanks for reading.

Good guide for web design
It's a very good guide for people who haven't done any graphical background. A good intermediate level of XHTML and CSS. Not for experienced designers.

Outstanding CSS design coverage
The CSS and HTML Web Design book builds on the excellent earlier title by the same author. The new book is larger, it contains more examples; a lot of the examples are presented in a step-by-step manner. The new examples overall are trickier than old examples which, for better or worse, tended to gravitate towards the academic side of web design rather than real life requirements often imposed upon website builders.

After general introductions, the main sections of this book consist of chapters dedicated to styling text, images, navigation, tables, page layouts, forms, and putting everything together when building complete websites. A special place in the book takes the chapter on dealing with browser quirks. This is a very important chapter that teaches how to deal with browser compatibility issues; it is especially relevant as some of the examples from other chapters do not work as expected in Internet Explorer versions 6 or earlier.

At the core of this book are HTML/XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), but the author also takes dives into various web technologies such as mail form scripts, PHP, JavaScript, and even mentions Ruby On Rails. There is practically no information on ASP.NET, but the web design lessons from this book are applicable to any server technology.

The book appendix contains handy references of most important XHTML and CSS elements and attributes, character encoding tables, web color guide, and information on browsers and recommended software.

The CSS and HTML Web Design is an excellent title containing a wealth of information useful to website designers of any level.
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Book Description
Part of the highly successful Shelly Cashman series, this introductory text leads the user through a clear, step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach to learning HTML. Readers learn how to create a Web page using HTML, format the page, add graphics, and more with this exciting new edition. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The entire "For Dummies" series is no insult -- these are consistently some of the best introductions to their topics available. For beginners, even using an HTML editor is daunting. In clear language and with a dose of humor at every turn, the authors lead you through creating a web page, making it shine and taming some of the trickier aspects of web pages like CGI programming. The cartoons sprinkled throughout the book are marvelous. Don't miss the "Top Ten HTML Dos and Don'ts" or "Ten Design Desiderata."Book Description
New Web authoring tools such as Claris Home Page, Microsoft FrontPage, and Adobe PageMill almost take care of all the HTML markup needed to build great-looking Web pages. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the spirit of innovation rages on at companies like Netscape and Microsoft -- and stays well-ahead of even the best Web authoring tools. That's why it pays to have the completely updated HTML For Dummies, 3rd Edition, on hand so that you peer under the hood of your Web pages to add Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer enhancements, JavaScript, ActiveX, and Java applets that heighten the functionality and style of your whole Web site. Plus, Web pros Ed Tittel and Steven N. James share their savvy advice on when and when not to use nonstandard HTML tags, including how to accommodate visitors using early, less capable browsers, and how to organize a large Web site so that it makes sense to you and your visitors. Best of all, HTML For Dummies, Third Edition, includes a bonus disk containing HTML templates, software, and other terrific resources to help you build great Web pages fast. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

HTML for Dummies
This is a very user friendly book.
On another note, I am impressed with the speed that I received my books.
Thank you Amazon

HTML for Dummies NOT for Dummies
I ordered this book along with Web Design for Dummies expecting to get started writing simple web pages.These books are not for dummies.It offers very little explanation of html tags; it doesn't offer pros or cons of the tag usage vs. another tag; examples are not near the explanation-you need to open the cd to view the eample in question.It spent too much time promoting tools and services outside of the "Dummy" concept.

I was very disappointed with this book...I bought another book which out-performed the Dummy series.

I learned basic HTML
A few years ago I wanted to learn basic HTML.I figured the best way to do this was to buy "HTML For Dummies" and use it to set up a basic Web site for my church.That way I got both theory and hands on practice.This is exactly what I did, and the book came through for me.I learned enough HTML to set up a basic, but working, Web site for my church.

The only thing I wanted to learn but never could figure out from the book was frames.I settled on tables for navigation since all my attempts at frames failed.

I have since gone on to do a Web site for my cats, a text based site on the subject of the Sabbath, and a Web site to track my weight loss and measurements.I even coded my own little blog at one point.

The next thing I want to learn is some basic CSS to have better control over the Web sites I've created.

I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't know anything about HTML and wants to learn it.

Good Basic HTML
This book is great if you need to know the basics of HTML. I refer over to it if there is something I am looking to do for my webpage. It is easy to understand, especially if you aren't a technical person. If you want to learn basic HTML, this is a great book to get you started building webpages.

Disappointing
Unfortunately this book suffers from a failure to live up to its own hype. There are too many gaps in this so-called "beginner's text", and there are far too many parts of the text where no example is given except in the CD --- which is practicaly unplayable. PURCHASER'S CAVEAT --- This book will NOT allow you to set up your own web page based only on information contained within it. A disgrace to the usually dependable "Dummies" series. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This guide is appropriate for those who just need to know enough HTML to get around or who want a convenient, quick reference for the little things they forgot. While far short of a complete course on HTML, this reference is much more than a mere cheat sheet. The signature light-heartedness of the For Dummies series can help make you comfortable if the giant HTML tomes are too daunting.

Topics covered include how to construct basic HTML pages, how to wisely use images on your pages, how to link HTML pages to each other, how to design attractive and effective pages, how to put your pages on the Web, how to use frames, and how to develop style sheets. Three appendices provide quick reference for HTML tags, special symbols, and cascading style sheet properties and values.

The book's design makes referencing as you work particularly easy--the book is compact, takes up very little desk space, and features a comb-bound spine, allowing it to open flat and remain at your selected page. --Elizabeth LewisBook Description
For years, HTML has been synonymous with Web development. Before you can cultivate your online visions, you must first master basic HTML. But even the most advanced HTML technician needs an easy-to-read lexicon. Enter HTML 4 For Dummies Quick Reference, the handy, fingertip HTML guide with clear explanations, tag definitions, and detailed tables.

Award-winning authors and HTML experts Deborah and Eric Ray share their expertise on everything from using images in your Web pages to determining who your readers are and evaluating their motivations for visiting your site. As an added bonus, HTML 4 For Dummies Quick Reference includes a full color cheat sheet listing 216 consistent and reliable HTML colors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

This is a great reference at a very inexpensive price...
I love this book because it is a well-written concise reference to HTML.It is also spirally bound so it lays flat to boot.This book contains what you need to know without a lot of superfluous text.It is well-organized and collect important information into summary sections.If you are looking for a quick reference, look no further!Like most Dummies books, however, it is written on inexpensive paper.This isn't a huge drawback, however, since computer books are ancient history very quickly and only useful for starting fires after a few years.

Great for beginners!
I love this book! 7 years ago, when I was in high school, I knew nothing about HTML, so I picked up this book. And it really helped me learn fast!

Each of the book's lessons is hands-on, which makes it so much easier to pick up. It teaches you HTML by having you type the codes into the Notepad program, and saving the file as an .html instead of a .txt file. Then, when you open it up, it appears in webpage format, and you can quickly edit and play around with the codes in Notepad to see what kind of different results you get. Actually, even to this day, I still use a Notepad program instead of one of those fancy page-creator programs. I like keepin' it DIY, Old School, baby!

Some of the things the book covers:
- how to use different fonts
- how to put in images
- how to make an image map (so when you click on different parts of the image, you're sent to different links)
- how to create basic tables
- how to create numbered and bulleted lists
- how to make frames

Even though the book won't teach you some of the fancier stuff you see on webpages, like how to use non-bordered tables for layout design, or how to make text change when you roll your mouse cursor over it, it will teach you how to be able to learn those things. Since the book taught me how to view the source code of webpages and how to understand code in the first place, whenever I went to someone's website and saw something cool I liked, I just viewed their source code to see how they were able to do those things. This is all perfectly fine; just DON'T STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S LAYOUT. Not cool, people. Just see how others do things, and use those techniques to make something of your own design.

Once you learn the basics of HTML, it's easy to pick up that fancy stuff. There's plenty of tutorial sites on the web and thick HTML reference books at the library that'll give you the codes for that. And this book definitely gives you the foundation for learning those things.

This a very good begging to learn HTML
I had new a little html before I got this book but after I got this book my web pages went from looking like something a high school freshman could do after a weekend to something that looks fairly professional I really enjoyed this book and will be getting java for dummies also if it half as good as this one

Great Little Friend!
This is the first HTML book I bought and it's become my favorite. Not only did I learn how to build a webpage from scratch, I continue to learn new tricks from it every time I dip inside. This is great if you want to learn how to code your pages and not rely on templates. There's also a quick and handy color code guide in the back.

Delightful Little Book
Over the years, I've learned many programming languages (technically, HTML isn't one, but I'll ignore that technicality). The primary way I've learned them is with books, such as those by MS Press, Sams and even the Dummies series. Many programming books are bad; the Dummies books, particularly so. They tend to overly dumb down concepts to a point of being so vague that the message is lost.

But not this book.

The information in HTML4 Quick Reference is highly concentrated. It does start out so simply that a developer new to HTML is rightfully tempted to skip the first few chapters. Fortunately, the structure of the book allows one to do this. Outside of the absolute most basic things (The structure of HTML, links and images), each part (The book is divided in to parts & sections, not chapters) stands independently. Each part is, for lack of a better comparison, a step-by-step guide.

The only real "style" the code has is that each tag is placed on its own line. It lacks indenting, something that is quite necessary in a hierarchy-based language such as HTML. But this could be as much due to the books small form-factor as the authors' personal preference.

The book does feature a writing style for code, though. One of the most important things the Rays preach is writing tags in pairs, e.g.

At least one of the reviews before me claimed the color-reference to be worth the price of the book alone. While, admittedly, it is handy, it is slightly flawed. For one, it, as with all things printed, is printed with CMYK coloring. There is a disclaimer before the colors appear, but this point needs to be stressed: The colors on screen will not match the colors on the page. The second complaint I have with the color guide- The colors appear in numerical order: #000000, #000033, ..., #FFFFCC, #FFFFFF. It would be better to have sorted them by hue or luminosity, similar to Macromedia Dreamweaver's color palette. Although, admittedly, if you're doing work in a WYSIWYG editor, this book is not nearly as important as if you're developing in a text-editor.

As far as I'm concerned, the heart of this book lies in its appendices. In an organized fashion, it lists a majority of HTML 4 tags, their attributes, a description of each tag and attribute, their status within HTML (deprecated, which version of HTML they originated in, or what browser(s) support them exclusively).

Appendix B features the various symbols (&, ü, etc.), their numeric representation, the Mnemonic representation (& = & amp;) and a description of what each represents. It would have been nice if the list was divided into categories of some sort, instead of just listing them numerically like the colors, but the natural ordering within the ANSI/Unicode character spec provides for some degree of natural organization.

Appendix C is a brief list of CSS 1 properties and values. This appendix glosses over too much, but if what you need to know is contained within it, it's faster and easier then searching for the information elsewhere on the web. Of course, my edition of this book came out less then 2-years after CSS1 was formalized. ... Read more