Product Description
Suddenly, everyone’s talking about HTML5, and ready or not, you need to get acquainted with this powerful new development in web and application design. Some of its new features are already being implemented by existing browsers, and much more is around the corner.
 
Written by developers who have been using the new language for the past year in their work, this book shows you how to start adapting the language now to realize its benefits on today’s browsers. Rather than being just an academic investigation, it concentrates on the practical—the problems HTML5 can solve for you right away. By following the book’s hands-on HTML5 code examples you’ll learn:

• new semantics and structures to help your site become richer and more accessible
  

• how to apply the most important JavaScript APIs that are already implemented
  

• the uses of native multimedia for video and audio

• techniques for drawing lines, fills, gradients, images and text with canvas
  

• how to build more intelligent web forms

• implementation of new storage options and web databases

• how geolocation works with HTML5 in both web and mobile applications

Customer Reviews (8)

Good overview
This book provides a good overview of the newer technologies of HTML 5.There are parts that are glossed over where I would have appreciated the ability to see the javascript code that was being discussed.It almost seemed like he didn't want to give up his secret code that he'd slaved over.

I'm an experienced HTML developer and a mediocre javascript, so the more javascript examples there are, the better for me.If you want to keep up with the latest trends but don't need a reference book, this would be a good option.The authors seemed to place a priority on accessibility concerns, while this is laudable, I believe some of that space could have been used for more code or depth.

HTML5, the messy truth
This excellent book, damn well written, clearly presents the messy complexities of the shift into HTML5. The authors not only walk you through hands-on examples to teach you to get an HTML5 site up and running immediately, but also take the time to discuss the rationale, the historical context, the odd nonsense, and the potentially necessary work-arounds behind them. Read it!

Interesting, informative, descriptive, explanatory and amusing
If I was to describe this book in five words, the review title says it all.

As an early (but not as early as Bruce or Remy) adopter of HTML5, I know a fair bit about the subject matter but after reading this book I realised how much I didn't know. As well as talking about the well known new features of HTML5 such as video, audio, canvas and forms, Bruce and Remy also delve into such diverse topics as ARIA (for accessibility), data storage, offline applications, the (nasty) drag and drop API and even the geolocation API (even though it's not strictly part of HTML5).

The book is littered with clear explanations and well written, amusing, sometimes weird, coding examples. There is no glossing over the fact that HTML5 is far from perfect, and that the HTML5 specification itself isn't finalised and therefore subject to change but the authors do a great job of keeping the content interesting and fresh.

It's a refreshing and honest approach to a technical book and one I highly recommend to web developers either new to the world of HTML5 or wanting to find out more.

Great Read -- never dry!
Rarely is it a joy to read a tech book. Yes, the information you glean may be a wonderful, if it helps you increase your skills, but the book itself can be fairly mundane. This book blows that mold apart. I found myself chuckling my way through it, looking forward to the next little wise-crack. And lest you think it's a couple good writers without a lot of knowledge--think again. The information is top shelf as Bruce and Remy have been involved with the development of HTML5 and absolutely know their stuff.

Read it cover to cover or skip around in the chapters as a reference--it's well laid out, logical and highly informative. They don't mince words about what works and doesn't right now. As a front-end developer myself, I'm extremely into the practical--what can I implement in my work now--what needs to wait? This book has enough pages to really give you a feel for this evolution of HTML as well as some of the new APIs that will soon be at your fingertips.

As to the previous people removing a star for the book's printing problem--while I get what you're saying, it's a shame to make this book seem like any less than 5 stars. It's about the information. I got one of the messy books (they've been reprinted now) and to be honest, my books look like that in no time anyway--well the good ones that I dog ear anyway. ;) It's a shame the printer flubbed the first run since anything other than a 5 star average for this book is just wrong (many won't read the reasons and will just look at the overall average).

Regardless of the initial issues, this book is a must have in the library of anyone that is keeping their eye on the future of our craft and wanting to stay ahead of the masses.

Learning technical stuff need not be dry/dull. With this, it isn't
It seems that one way of making sure your web site is ultra cool and can do anything you ever wanted it to with no browser problems whatsoever is to use HTML5. Or, at least, that's what a rather worryingly high number of publications and web sites might have you believe. The reality is somewhat different, though. HTML is an evolution, not a revolution, and while it attempts to standardise a number of practices that developers have been using over many years, it won't necessarily fix existing problems. Actually, using some HTML5 will introduce fresh problems if you don't apply it right. What you need, then, is a book that takes a pragmatic approach, doesn't sell it as a cure-all fix, identifies the nasties and even sticks its neck out when it feels that the HTML5 spec has got it wrong. I say 'it' but of course, this is a book written by real people, in this case Bruce Lawson and Remy Sharp. Both have been very much involved with the development of HTML5 and its related technologies, and there are few people who I'd trust more to give you the real picture.

I began reading the book with the full intention of zipping straight through but found myself repeatedly putting it to one side while muttering to myself "I can implement that now, shouldn't take long". This is a good thing - none of your 'cloud cuckoo land' thinking here, just sensible advice and examples that you, as a web developer, can implement now or at least be starting to experiment with.

Technical books are not always the most enjoyable of reads. It may be a cliché that techies can sometimes be a bit weak in the area of easy-to-understand communication (and, some might argue, personal grooming) but this is not an accusation that you could level at Bruce or Remy. Reading this book is educational but also fun. You can just tell that the two of them had a few laughs while writing their respective chapters and also seeing which colloquial phrases (with dubious double meanings) they could sneak past the editors (the answer to this is 'quite a lot'; I won't reveal them, you can find them for yourself!). If you find sitting in a seminar room with amphitheatre style seating, learning from a stuffy professor (possibly bearded, maybe wearing tweed blazer) a bit difficult, perhaps you'd prefer a straight talk down the pub with a couple of guys who really know their stuff and will enthusiastically explain it to you as long as the bar remains open, then this is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description

Five Things You Should Know About HTML5
by Mark Pilgrim

1. It’s not one big thing. You may well ask: “How can I start using HTML5 if older browsers don’t support it?” But the question itself is misleading. HTML5 is not one big thing; it is a collection of individual features. So you can’t detect “HTML5 support,” because that doesn’t make any sense. But you can detect support for individual features, like canvas, video, or geolocation.

You may think of HTML as tags and angle brackets. That’s an important part of it, but it’s not the whole story. The HTML5 specification also defines how those angle brackets interact with JavaScript, through the Document Object Model (DOM). HTML5 doesn’t just define video tag; there is also a corresponding DOM API for video objects in the DOM. You can use this API to detect support for different video formats, play a video, pause, mute audio, track how much of the video has been downloaded, and everything else you need to build a rich user experience around the video tag itself.

Chapter 2 and Appendix A will teach you how to properly detect support for each new HTML5 feature.

2. You don’t need to throw anything away. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that HTML 4 is the most successful markup format ever. HTML5 builds on that success. You don’t need to throw away your existing markup. You don’t need to relearn things you already know. If your web application worked yesterday in HTML 4, it will still work today in HTML5. Period.

Now, if you want to improve your web applications, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a concrete example: HTML5 supports all the form controls from HTML 4, but it also includes new input controls. Some of these are long-overdue additions like sliders and date pickers; others are more subtle. For example, the email input type looks just like a text box, but mobile browsers will customize their onscreen keyboard to make it easier to type email addresses. Older browsers that don’t support the email input type will treat it as a regular text field, and the form still works with no markup changes or scripting hacks. This means you can start improving your web forms today, even if some of your visitors are stuck on IE 6.

Read all the gory details about HTML5 forms in Chapter 9.

3. It’s easy to get started. “Upgrading” to HTML5 can be as simple as changing your doctype. The doctype should already be on the first line of every HTML page. Previous versions of HTML defined a lot of doctypes, and choosing the right one could be tricky. In HTML5, there is only one doctype: !DOCTYPE html

Upgrading to the HTML5 doctype won’t break your existing markup, because all the tags defined in HTML 4 are still supported in HTML5. But it will allow you to use -- and validate -- new semantic elements like article, section, header, and footer. You’ll learn all about these new elements in Chapter 3.

4. It already works Whether you want to draw on a canvas, play video, design better forms, or build web applications that work offline, you’ll find that HTML5 is already well-supported. Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, and mobile browsers already support canvas (Chapter 4), video (Chapter 5), geolocation (Chapter 6), local storage (Chapter 7), and more. Google already supports microdata annotations (Chapter 10). Even Microsoft -- rarely known for blazing the trail of standards support -- will be supporting most HTML5 features in the upcoming Internet Explorer 9.

Each chapter of this book includes the all-too-familiar browser compatibility charts. But more importantly, each chapter includes a frank discussion of your options if you need to support older browsers. HTML5 features like geolocation (Chapter 6) and video (Chapter 5) were first provided by browser plugins like Gears or Flash. Other features, like canvas (Chapter 4), can be emulated entirely in JavaScript. This book will teach you how to target the native features of modern browsers, without leaving older browsers behind.

5. It’s here to stay. Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web in the early 1990s. He later founded the W3C to act as a steward of web standards, which the organization has done for more than 15 years. Here is what the W3C had to say about the future of web standards, in July 2009:

Today the Director announces that when the XHTML 2 Working Group charter expires as scheduled at the end of 2009, the charter will not be renewed. By doing so, and by increasing resources in the HTML Working Group, W3C hopes to accelerate the progress of HTML5 and clarify W3C’s position regarding the future of HTML.

HTML5 is here to stay. Let’s dive in. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Is it too early to start understanding HTML5? No, the sooner, the better
Is it too early to start adopting HTML5? Most likely yes.
Is it too early to start understanding HTML5? No, the sooner, the better.
Does the author spend too much time talking about video codecs? Yes, the discussion is too off-topic considering the book's goal.
Are there too many examples in the microdata chapter? Yes, and I don't understand why, a few pages in that chapter are just redundant.
Is Pilgrim an author you enjoy reading? Yes, definitely.
Is it worth picking this book to get a feeling of what HTML5 looks like? Sure, go for it, you will not regret.
Since specifications and browsers evolves, is this book going to be outdated? Not very soon, but later on it will.

Short, but a good overview
As someone who's reasonably familiar with earlier versions of HTML, but was not at all familiar with HTML5, I used the online version of this book (and later the printed version) to get up to speed. While the book doesn't go into great detail on anything, it gives a good overview of the new features in HTML5, which major browsers support each feature, and workarounds for the ones that don't. This is NOT a book on HTML, but on the new things in HTML5; don't expect a "how to build a website" primer here!

The book starts off with a brief history of HTML, then dives in to the new features. Chapter two is all about detecting which features of HTML5 the user's browser supports; this will be particularly important for the next few years as compatibility improves. Chapter 3 discusses the new semantic elements and markup; this is probably my favorite part of HTML5 as it makes it much easier to just type everything by hand without making a mistake.

The next few chapters discuss using the canvas tag (to draw on the screen) and the new video and audio elements, followed by the geolocation options. As someone who hasn't done much with HTML forms lately (but needs to) I really enjoyed chapter 9, which shows the new form elements and discusses how they degrade gracefully on older browsers. I wasn't that interested in the final chapter, on microdata, but it's good to know it's out there.

Overall, I enjoyed the book; it's a quick read and a good introduction to what's available; while I'm more likely to Google a particular element for more information, at least now I know what's out there.

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book; my full review is available at vulcanears.com.

try before you buy
"HTML 5 Up and Running" is the print version of the book posted at diveintohtml5.org.It covers the new features in HTML 5 along with which browsers support what (and how to do feature detection.)It's a concise book at 205 pages and sells for just under $20 dollars.

At the moment, the content is current.This may or may not change depending on how faithfully the browsers implement the spec.

I bought the book for two reasons:
1) I read the HTML version in it's entirety and wanted to support the author.
2) I like reading books away from the computer and scribbling it them.

Before buying the book, check out the website and see what you think for yourself.For me, it was buy.

HTML5: Thin and limping
As other reviewers have noted, HTML5 is an emerging set of standards at the frontier of the web.Only the most well-heeled of developers want to work on such frontiers, but many people want to know what is coming and how to prepare for it.HTML5's advantages include plugin-free support of video, some new form elements, local storage beyond cookies, geolocation, and the new canvas element that most versions of internet explorer don't support.Someday, perhaps a decade or so in the future, these elements will be widely supported and developers won't have to write two versions of their web pages: one for html5 and one for html4.But it will take a LONG time for all of those people still running XP or Windows 2000 or older versions of the Mac to get there.

My main interest in HTML5 arises because the iPhone and iPad don't support either flash or java.Flash is often used for video, but that can be done via QuickTime and WindowsMedia and I've never needed flash for video.Flash can also produce elaborate simulations or games that interact with users and are not video based.So can Java.But both are excluded on the iOS operating system.The only alternative for web developers is the canvas element in HTML5.Pilgrim gives this important element only basic coverage: He shows how to draw a static graph (including axes and labeled points).He shows how to add images, and creates a simple mouse-driven game.But he does not show the full code for the game -- you have to go online to access that.This is the simplest form of interaction and Pilgrim does not cover anything more advanced.I have no idea if the canvas is double-buffered or if we have to do that somehow in our code, for example.Also left out is any mention of animating a canvas over time.Most of what Pilgrim does with the canvas element could be done with static gifs: The game he implements would be EASIER using html4 with tables.

Pilgrim does present a useful discussion of different video codecs in HTML5 and the challenge of working in this developing world.I have been using H.264 recently because I thought it was an open standard and is available on the iPhone and iPad.However, Pilgrim makes it clear that if I ever "go commercial" with my work, I'll have to pay some serious royalties to the patent owners for the next 20 years or so.The WebM and Theora+Ogg systems don't require any royalty payments, but neither do they work on the iPhone or iPad.(Making advanced material available on the iOS within the web is a tremendous challenge for developers these days!)

In his discussion of the new semantic tags, Pilgrim didn't bother with even a single screenshot of the resulting web page, nor did he contrast different HTML4/HTML5 alternatives.More detail is apparently available in the online version, but that presents its own set of challenges: The online edition is only free for 45 days.After that, you have to buy a subscription.

The publisher for this book is O'Reilly, one of my favorite publishers of computer books.But the cover also states "Google (tm) Press."I felt the ghostly fingers of Google (tm) running through the book.I certainly like the company, but I found the emphasis and the tone to be quite favorable to my favorite search engine -- not as unbiased and objective as I felt it should be.

In summary: The coverage of new features is thin, especially with the canvas element.Helpful illustrations are missing (though available for a short time in the online edition).Code is missing (though available free for a short time in the online edition).The alpine chamois on the cover should have been drawn in a more gaunt form and perhaps with a cast on a leg or two: HTML5 is not up and running, it is thin and limping.

The subtitle says it all:"Up and Running"
I read an draft of this book before it went to press and have to say that I was very impressed.Mark Pilgrim's writing style is well-researched, organized, pragmatic, and easy on the eyes.It makes for a pleasant read.

His approach will give you a thorough grounding in HTML 5.Other books will go in to how to achieve specific effects or may spec-out every tag and element in gory detail, but Mark Pilgrim's text lays the foundation for the deep understanding of what makes HTML 5 different.

This book doesn't take long to read and it gives an excellent return on the time invested.I recommend it as the best way to get "up and running". ... Read more

Product 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.

Praise
"Elegant design is at the core of every chapter here, each concept conveyed with equal doses of pragmatism and wit."
--Ken Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Disney Online

"This book is a thoroughly modern introduction to forward-looking practices in web page markup and presentation."
--Danny Goodman, author of Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Guide

"What used to be a long trial and error learning process has now been reduced neatly into an engaging paperback."
--Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine, Inc.

"I love Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML--it teaches you everything you need to learn in a 'fun coated' format!" -
-Sally Applin, UI Designer and Artist

"I haven't had as much fun reading a book (other than Harry Potter) in years. And your book finally helped me break out of my hapless so-last-century way of creating web pages."
--Professor David M. Arnow, Department of Computer and Information Science, Brooklyn College

"If you've ever had a family member who wanted you to design a website for them, buy them Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. If you've ever asked a family member to design you a web site, buy this book. If you've ever bought an HTML book and ended up using it to level your desk, or for kindling on a cold winter day, buy this book. This is the book you've been waiting for. This is the learning system you've been waiting for."
--Warren Kelly, Blogcritics.org

Product Description

In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, you can learn how to use HTML and CSS to design, create, and maintain world-class web sites. Using a clear, down-to-earth approach, each lesson builds upon the previous one, allowing even complete beginners to learn the essentials from the ground up.

Full-color figures and clear step-by-step instructions help you learn quickly.

Practical, hands-on examples show you how to apply what you learn.

Quizzes and Exercises help you test your knowledge and stretch your skills.

Learn how to…

  Build your own web page and get it online in an instant

  Format text for maximum clarity and readability

  Create links to other pages and to other sites

  Add graphics, color, and visual pizazz to your web pages

  Work with transparent images and background graphics

  Design your site’s layout and typography using CSS

  Get user input with web-based forms

  Publicize your site and make it search-engine friendly

  Test a web site for compatibility with different browsers

  Make your site easy to maintain and update as it grows

Free Access to Online Learning Lab

Register your book at informit.com/register for free, exclusive access to the Online Learning Lab to supplement this book’s lessons:

  Video walkthroughs to show you how to complete the step-by-step examples in the book

  Fast and fun online quizzes to test your understanding of each lesson

  Updates or corrections as they become available

Customer Reviews (21)

Introduction to Making Websites
This book is written for those who are new at making websites, and includes chapters on related topics such as preparation of web graphics along with basic discussions and exercises on html and css. The topic of css itself is so vast that the authors can only present an introduction. Chapters on positioning in css are excellent and very important, while the absence of discussion about font units is puzzling. To be specific, the exercises use points to specify fonts and don't discuss px or em or % which are far more commonly used on the web. I also would have liked a discussion of best practices in css; that would really help with writing and understanding stylesheets. Certain chapters seem to be leftover from previous editions - such as framesets, that now have only specialized uses.

The title has to be taken with a large dose of irony, as does the "html5 coverage" on the cover (html5 is discussed on one page). html5 features are just now being introduced in web browsers so the use of xhtml is justified, but that cover made me expect more. "Introduction to Making Websites"is a more boring but more accurate title.

A book like this could be even more useful if it had a dedicated website with more discussion and examples tied to the published version.

Down to the Basics - Simplified Where One Can Do It Blind-Folded
If you already keen on HTML 4 and older as well as CSS, JS, PHP, et al - then you will be well prepared for the upcoming HTML 5 plus CSS-2, CSS-3, JS - Java Script, PHP, et al. All narrowed down and simplified; moreover, this book here will make you want to throw away all of your old books sans the HTML 4 (and those surrounding it)and becoming ready for the NEW GENERATION of browser. What is so amazing is how much 'tags' are eliminated and the changes...

If there is ever time to practice and adapt for "Old Timers" and "Experts" as well as "Web-Masters", the time is NOW ... for one would be relatively SURPRISED, which much emphasis on this of just how easy it is to take out the old files and update it to the latest and already be ready when the browsers become available - which can be anytime soon!

Bonus Point in knowing that such feat now can easily be run off of a flash drive!

Good Book for Beginners
If you have never seen HTML before this book would be an excellent place to start. It starts from the very basics and assumes you know nothing. The subjects are broken up in chunks meant to be consumed in one hour lessons. I found that I could get through a lesson in more like 15 to 20 minutes.

If you are looking for an HTML and CSS reference, this isn't the place. However, the book points out a Web site that is a wonderful reference because it is easy to find a tag or command you are looking for through the links. And this site has examples you can play with live, which is a great learning experience.

The book would have worked better stand-alone if it had come with a CD of some ready-made examples to play with instead of having to type them in from the lising in the book. However, with the Web site mentioned above you have the whole package for learning.

A top self-starter learning tool for any studying HTML and CSS
Sams Teach Yourself HTML and CSS in 24 Hours appears in its eighth updated edition to offer 24 lessons of one hour or less explaining how to use HTML and CSS to create a wine web site. Lessons build systematically and survey all the basics using full-color pictures and step-by-step directions, concluding with quizzes and examples. A top self-starter learning tool for any studying HTML and CSS.

I Posted My Own Website in A FEW DAYS!!!
I know that my site isn't going to win the WEB-E awards, but it has graphics, audio files, tables, photoshopped pictures and is something I was completely incapable of doing before I picked up this book.I had been thinking of taking college courses because I wanted to get into the web world and it seemed inaccessible. I majored in Cultural Anthropology, so I'm a bit behind the technology wave.

The sites I created were creationsbycrouch and huknowsphotography so far.

It isn't accessible any more. My sites are up and I've offered to make more sites for friends. I grow and learn daily and I'm having fun!I bought this book originally in kindle, which I like because I can listen to it with the text-to-speech function while I'm working out in the gym.The ideas kind of swim in my brain, but I found that when I was actually sitting by the computer, it helped to have a real paper version, so I bought a second copy of the book.

Simply put -- I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

I also bought Flexible Web Design and Teach Yourself PHP and MySQL.The Flexible Web Design Book is awesome! My sites now scale from wide screen to tiny! I haven't started down the PHP path yet, but I'm looking forward to it. ... Read more

Product 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 (128)

I didn't get my item!
I have been purchased this item for weeks but i have never get this item. i brought this item in ur website but the book didn't come. I wanna ask why?

good item perfect condition
The shipping is a little slow but the item is perfect but also at a reasonable price.

Excellent shipping time and condition!
Book was rcv'd exactly as described by seller, excellent condition, and rcv'd very quickly!Was hesitant to ordera used book as Ive had bad experience in the past, but this bok really was like new!

Great experience
Book was in great condition! They had extremely fast shipping and showed great care in packaging the book. I would definitely buy from them again.

Great transaction...
Product arrived in great condition just as the selling had described it. I would definitely buy from seller again! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (26)

This is THE COOKBOOK for creating an app.
In the hit or miss world of buying reference books, this one is a big hit!It's a very practical step-by-step guide to creating an iPhone app and -- most important -- THE EXAMPLES WORK. From nuggets on using -webkit to get the look and feel into the phone user's comfort zone, using JQuery to accomplish self-calling pages so you don't keep activating Safari over and over, to showing you the steps to prepare a webapp to go into the iPhone's icon menu either directly or through iTunes.This is the good stuff.Every programmer I've shown the book to so far immediately orders one.

A little information can be highly profitable
It is always interesting to see why people do what they do and //Building iPhone Apps// showed us why Jonathan Stark is irritated with the apparent need to use higher programming languages in order to program simplistic iPhone apps. After doing some exploring, he found that you could create apps with the same basic coding you would use for designing Web sites.

The book itself is pretty good. There are plenty of coding examples, tips on how to do things better, and instructions on how to do some interesting things with some basic code. It is a neat little book on how to do things you wouldn't expect with some code that looks great but is usually disregarded because of its relative simplicity to learn. This is a great book for that programmer who is looking for something to do on the side, and doesn't mind learning a few new tricks.

Reviewed by: Jamais Jochim

What a great book!
This is a great book. Starts off by telling you pros and cons of native apps v html apps, then explains how to build HTML apps from scratch, and using jQTouch. Clear, easy to follow examples which are nicely broken down and explained.

I wrote an app in a couple of hours using this.

Could have been so much better!
First off, the title is completely misleading. Almost every chapter in the book covers how to build iPhone-specific web applications using HTML 5 and CSS3 specs. The last two chapters, and only the last two chapters, address converting these iPhone web apps into iPhone native apps using PhoneGap and then submitting them to the Apple Store. Even then, the information coveredin these two chapters was rudimentary at best.

I probably shouldn't have had such high expectations, but the reputation of both the publisher and the author has always been stellar in my book. A title like, "Introduction to Building iPhone Web Apps and Converting Then to Native Apps using PhoneGap" would have properly prepared me for the content of the book. The content in and of itself is excellent--as an introduction, but nothing more.

So if you're interested in building iPhone web apps, this book is a great starting point. If you're interested in building iPhone native apps with web technologies, this book might be a letdown considering the level of your expertise developing iPhone web apps.

Short but sweet
This book really hit the sweet-spot for me. It covered all the topics I wanted to know more about but it kept things brief and to the point. I wish more authors would scale back on the blah blah blah and stick to the meat of the topic. Worth every penny. ... Read more

Product Description
Want to build a killer Web site? Want to make it easy to keep your site up to date? You'll need to know how CSS, HTML, and XHTML work together. HTML, XHTML, and CSS All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies makes that easy too! These eight minibooks get you started, explain standards, and help you connect all the dots to create sites with pizzazz.

This handy, one-stop guide catches you up on XHTML basics and CSS fundamentals. You'll learn how to work with Positionable CSS to create floating elements, margins, and multi-column layouts, and you'll get up to speed on client-side programming with JavaScript. You'll also get the low-down on server side programming with PHP, creating a database with MySQL, and using Ajax on both client and server sides. You'll find out how to:

• Use templates and validators
• Manage information with lists and tables
• Turn lists of links into button bars
• Add style color and borders
• Create variables for data
• Add motion with basic DOM animation
• Work with arrays
• Add Flash functionality with AFLAX
• Build and manage a multipage site
• Choose and run your own server

You don't need expensive or complicated software or a super-powerful computer to build a Web site that does all sorts of amazing things. All you need is a text editor and the clear, step-by-step guidance you'll find in HTML, XHTML, and CSS All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Solid foundation
This book allowed me to make my first foray into web development, and it continues to be a good desk reference, since inevitably I'll forget some required attribute when building various pages. I still haven't gotten through the last two minibooks, but if you have no knowledge of how the internet works, you can start from page 1 and read the first 6 minibooks, and then write your own webpage. This book really does explain it that well. My only complaint is that the book explains things so simply that if you want to really start making your webpage look good, you'll come up a bit short. I've bought an additional book for php so that I can do more advanced programming, and I'm starting to learn Adobe Fireworks so I can do some more attractive layouts. For the rough basics, however, this was a great buy.

Excellent
This is an excellent book on Web programming. Don't let the title fool you, this book covers programming concepts far beyond HTML and CSS. Before I read it, I was confused by the dizzying array of web languages out there. Why in the world would a website use five different languages? This book brings clarity to the issue, explaining the purpose of each language and how to use it.

I have only one problem with the book. There are two full "programming" languages taught: JavaScript and PHP. The PHP section seems to be written for someone learning their first programming language, with concepts explained thoroughly and plenty of analogies. The JavaScript section, while teaching the same concepts but in JavaScript, seems to assume a basic understanding of programming. Here's the problem: The Javascript section is first. I didn't care because I understood programming basics before reading the book, but I can see how someone else would be confused. The whole book holds your hand, you don't need any prior knowledge, until the JavaScript section where you seem to be thrown in the deep end. Then the later PHP section goes back and gently eases you into programming. It's quite odd.

But the book as a whole is fantastic.

Great start!
I was able to jump right in with this book.The author writes well and he helps you mark the milestones with activities.It is lots of info, but handled in a way that is not overwhelming.You can put the book down and pick it up again without feeling like you have to start over.

Dummies Series Great Help for Web Designers
My passion has always been to design web sites, but it has been eleven years since I took web design in college.Obviously,there have been many changes in the past eleven years in web languages,and I felt the HTML, XHTML and CSS for Dummies book would be my best source for getting my web site, [...], acceptable.I am still diligently working on this site,and reference this book daily for web design sources and understanding.I can't imagine using any other books at this stage of web designing.HTML, XHTML, and CSS for Dummies has answered all my questions, and has helped me understand the new and complex design options for the apprentice web designer.I highly recommend this book for those starting out or have been away from web design for a while.

Excellent Guide on Building a Web Site
This book will take you from zero to hero in understanding how to build a robust, standards compliant website.While it does not cover every possible nuance of web site building, it gives you a firm grounding in the basic technologies and contains more than enough information to give you full command of the environment.After completing this book HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, AJAX, and others will be familiar and well understood concepts.The author also introduces some excellent free, open source tools that are invaluable in increasing your productivity.The book is written in a clear, well organized style with some light touches of humor thrown in.It is a joy to read. ... Read more

Product Description

Implement the powerful new multimedia and interactive capabilities offered by HTML5, including style control tools, illustration tools, video, audio, and rich media solutions. Understand how HTML5 is changing the Web development game with this full-color, project-based treatment that shows you-not just tells you-what HTML5 can do for your Web sites. Reinforce your practical understanding of the new standard with demo applications and tutorials, so that execution is one short step away.
The companion website, visualizetheweb.com, is packed full of extra information, online code libraries, and a user forum, offering even more opportunity to learn new skills, practice your coding and interact with other users.

Customer Reviews (15)

Good Intro to HTML5
I learned HTML back in the day -- enough to code a Geocities page, then enough to do edit simple style sheets in Blogger or Wordpress. But I never got around to really learning HTML5. When I saw this book pop up on my Amazon Vine list, I decided that it was time to give it a go.

I'm glad I did. The book is clear and readable, doing a good job of laying out HTML5 is an approachable way. I was able to dust off my old HTML knowledge and build off it quickly. I also like the fact that there's a companion website -- it's something that a book like this needs, considering the subject matter.

Finally, cascading style sheets make more sense to me! Time to go redesign my WordPress blog ...

A Good Introduction to HTML5 and Basic Web Programming & Design
HTML5: Designing Rich Internet Applications is a great book for all levels of web design. If you are a beginner, don't think this book isn't for you: I have a very basic knowledge of HTML and was able to read through this book and follow along without feeling lost. I was very surprised by how well written and how well illustrated each chapter and concept is. Even though the focus of this book is HTML5, if you've had little experience with web design or coding, this book easily will introduce you to the basics of web design and web developing and best yet will teach you how to design on the HTML5 platform, putting you ahead of many others out there.

This book is also great for those who already are familiar with HTML. If you have experience with XHTML or CSS coming into the book, I believe you will get even more out of this because you will be more than comfortable and able to handle going from thinking in the old standard of web coding to making the changes necessary for HTML5. How the book is organized and broken down is all logical and easy to understand; each chapter builds upon the last and in a way, this is one big course or tutorial that if you follow along and have a HTML file that you make the changes to and test it out in a browser, you will definitely get a lot out of this book.

In all, this is a good book to add to your collection. If you know absolutely nothing about HTML then you probably will find a lot of this material a bit too advanced for you (this book covers everything from XHTML stuff to CSS and Java). Otherwise, depending on what you're looking to do with HTML and your website, this could be a great reference guide for you.

Excited to be learning about HTML5
Quick review:
If you are interested in quickly learning what lies ahead for HTML developers, this book will quickly capture your interest and get you started on the new features of HTML5.Whether you are new to HTML and want to learn the potential of the latest version of the language, or are an experienced web programmer who wants to know what HTML5 brings to the table, then I recommend this book.

The details:
It's been several years since I've bought books about HTML.Now, there are reasons to start reading about it again.For me, the biggest reason?Steve Jobs and his decision to not support Adobe's Flash applications.His claim is that the open HTML5 is where we are headed.Rather than support Flash, he supports HTML5.I'm beginning to understand his decision.Do a search for HTML5 demos, and you will find some pretty amazing web pages, doing things you might not have imagined possible without Flash.

HTML5 is still only a draft standard, but more and more browsers are supporting it.So, if you are interested in getting your foot in the door early, then now is the time to be looking for HTML5 books.Enter "HTML5: Designing Rich Internet Applications".

This is far from a complete reference manual. Rather, it is a nice visual introduction to some of the main features of HTML5:
** more extensive tags for organizing content, such as

Product Description

HTML5 is here, and with it, web applications take on a power, ease, scalability, and responsiveness like never before. In this book, developers will learn how to use the latest cutting-edge HTML5 web technology—available in the most recent versions of modern browsers—to build web applications with unparalleled functionality, speed, and responsiveness.

• Explains how you can create real-time HTML5 applications that tap the full potential of modern browsers
• Provides practical, real-world examples of HTML5 features in action
• Shows which HTML5 features are supported in current browsers
• Covers all the new HTML5 APIs to get you up to speed quickly with HTML5

What you’ll learn

• How the HTML5 specification has evolved
• How to develop cutting-edge web applications using new HTML5 features like WebSockets, Geolocation, Web Storage, Canvas, and Audio and Video.
• Which features are available in browsers today

Who is this book for?

Customer Reviews (2)

Good and bad
Good because it teach what the title write, bad because it didnt use proper example. like the chapter creating HTML5 Offline Web Applications, where it use the html5 geolocation, localstroge, and offline api. it didnt give us the server side code that process the data, and the geolocation url that this book use was [..], god, example.net? pretty funny.

Rated "PPP" - Powerful, Practical, and Progressive
Peter Lubbers, Brian Albers, Ric Smith, and Frank Salim put together and excellent resource for powerful yet practical HTML5 code that can be used NOW. The book refutes the myth that HTML5 will not be usable until 2022 by going on and showing you how to use it today! By leveraging API's that have common browser support the effort is not purely academic. Although the code is targeted for a more advanced audience, an adept user will be able to glean plenty of information from the examples. The book answered many questions I had about the emerging HTML5 standards, and gave me some new techniques to implement. I recommend this book for anyone experienced with HTML who wants to start using HTML5 now. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (19)

Not Great for Quick Reference
The table of contents is minimal, and the real reference content is in one big section of tags in alphabetical order, so you have to page down until you get to what you're looking for.Also, the 4th edition of the book from 2000 had great appendices with CSS information, but that's missing from this reference.The lack of a good ToC or any index makes this not useful for quick reference.

Great Reference Book!
This book was used for a college course as a reference book. Served it's purpose and came in handy. Good buy.

Excelent Reference Material
This book is great if you are looking for a html/xhtml Reference guide.This has helped me greatly in my Intro. to Web programing class.There are a lot of attributes to know for html/xhtml programing and having this book in front of me helps when I get to one I don't know.

coleen's review
I am studying web design right now and this book will be very helpful to me.I just hope oneday they will have an iPhone app.So it'll be very handy.

Necessary for Web Developers
I have read this reference book twice through in preparation for an exam. I know it's not set up to be read from cover to cover like a normal book, but it worked great for a quick and easy to carry around review for the exam.

This book covers all of the fundamental concepts of (X)HTML, including the differentiation between HTML and XHTML. You will get a complete list of elements (a.k.a. tags) along with all attributes that apply to each element. This book also does a good job of identifying the elements and attributes that are deprecated for XHTML. Examples of each element are included, but they are very generic and simplistic. Overall, you get the essentials of what you need to know about (X)HTML; therefore this book is a must have for web developers.

This book does not contain an index. As far as the elements are concerned, an index is not necessary. They are in alphabetical order, so an index of the elements would be redundant. Honestly, every time I needed to reference this book, I was able to locate exactly what I was looking for without the need of an index. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (128)

Good reference book
This book is very helpful. It is easy to find things in this book, and the authors do a good job of explaining things.

Another fine OReilly book
I am taking an HTML class and this book is a great reference, as handy as the online W3C pages, which I use regularly.

Happy with it.
I have purchased many O'Reily books in the past and have been very happy with them.In fact, I will purchase an O'Reily book above all others unless there is a bad review.Maybe I am just a OBC type person.Anyways, so far the book seems good as a reference, well laid out, comprehensive.

HTML complete guide
If you are interested in learning HTML, or CSS, this is a great book to learn from, well worth the read, very informative, and written to understand.

Good desk reference
Since my mind is cluttered with 40 years-worth of programming languages, and I'm going between Java, JavaScript, XML, XSL, HTML, and CSS constantly, I need something to grab and lookup those things I may be unsure of.This book does the trick nicely. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Essential HTML Skills--Made Easy!

Create highly functional, impressive websites in no time. Fully updated and revised, HTML: A Beginner's Guide, Fourth Edition explains how to structure a page, place images, format text, create links, add color, work with multimedia, and use forms. You'll also go beyond the basics and learn how to save your own web graphics, use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), create dynamic web content with basic JavaScript, and upload your site to the web. By the end of the book you'll be able to build custom websites using the latest HTML techniques. An all-new chapter also covers creating HTML for e-mail, a hot-button issue for any business seeking to reach its target audience through online communication.

Designed for Easy Learning

• Key Skills & Concepts--Chapter-opening lists of specific skills covered in the chapter
• Ask the Expert--Q&A sections filled with bonus information and helpful tips
• Try This--Hands-on exercises that show you how to apply your skills
• Notes--Extra information related to the topic being covered
• Tips--Helpful reminders or alternate ways of doing things
• Self-Tests--Chapter-ending quizzes to test your knowledge

Customer Reviews (32)

4th Edition - A great beginners book.
I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn HTML from the floor up and to those wishing to brush up on the subject. I have used others in the series, such as the one on XML, and find them similarly useful. I was looking for a good beginners book as a refresher course and also an introduction to Cascading Style Sheets, especially the confusing, to me, art of positioning. There is also a useful chapter on HTML for e-mail. I learned the basics of HTML a long while ago but haven't used it in anger for a long time. The saying 'If you don't use it, you lose it.' applies to me. This book quickly got me back up to speed with modern HTML techniques and provided countless handy tips on many of the pages - for example, how to use images as form buttons. Everything is explained in easy to read English, with clear example code (that can be downloaded from the author's website) and illustrations. Differences between web browsers page display are mentioned (cross browser compatibility) where applicable, as are several solutions to those little quirks that dog HTMLers. This was very valuable information. I found exactly what I was looking for, particularly in the Forms chapter and the Positioning chapter. I put the knowledge gained into immediate use with success. 5 stars.

Straight-forward and Simple
This is a book about HTML, as the title says, but it also includes some CSS instruction. It does not, however, include much about JavaScript, PHP, or other languages for dynamic page construction. Try on of these if that is what your looking for: JavaScript, A Beginner's Guide, Third Edition (Beginner's Guide(Osborne Mcgraw Hill)), or Head First JavaScript

The HTML and CSS it teaches you are easy to understand, and easy to use. it is meant to be a Beginner's Guide.
You can create solid, simple websites using this book.

This version relies on CSS, rather than (font) tags and other depreciated elements, more than the previous editions. This is to keep web pages made with this book up to W3C standards. I built my first website using the first edition of this book from a local library, and now I will have to use the Forth Edition (the book being reviewed) and another book (Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML) to bring it up to CSS standards.

Helpful Book
it's a very helpful book especially for begginers like me.. it helped me alot excell in what im learning in school.

A Bit Spotty -- Here's Why
I was facing HTML issues like making banners, adding code to pages made on templates and embedding video files in my blog, so I bought this book.

You'd think all those things would be in it, but only the third is. The word "banners" isn't even in the index. Neither is "templates."

These are very "now" issues for people like me. I strongly recommend the next edition be more thorough.

CSS is also invoked more frequently than it is explained. This needs work.

I do not wish to discourage the author. I just think the next volume could improve over this one in key ways.

I also do not care for the use of the author's favorite camp and school for all the examples. I admire her enthusiasm but found it tedious. I suspect most people would not be bothered, however.

Issues pertaining to blogs could be expanded.

For me, a three star book. Useful, but I'll have to buy supplements.

good beginner's book
this book was a good beginner's html book. if you're coming from a programming background though, you'll be able to tell that it was not written by a programmer (which she herself admits to). but that's okay, since you end up learning the subject material anyway.

i had to subtract a star because there were some misstatements (e.g. writing 'attribute' instead of 'property') and quite a few code mistakes, as another reviewer pointed out.

i don't agree with the 2 star reviews. this book is a lot better than that. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (76)

Great for Beginners!
I knew nothing about designing web sites and now I do - if you want to make super fancy sites - you will need more training - but this is great to get a solid foundation!

Great book
I am a total neophyte when it comes to building websites. This book has given all the tools I need to get started and provided an excellent source of information. Highly recommended for those who have an interest in web design.

Very good begginer's book
This is absolutely the best way of learning HTML/CSS if you are a beginner. As the title says, it teaches you to code the right way, explaining very carefully every process in making the web site that you are building in the book. The style adopted by the author is very familiar, and even if i'm not a native English speaker i managed to understand all the techniques described in the book. There are plenty of screenshots and full code examples, this is very good for a beginner. Before reading this book i didn't manged to understand css positioning, and believe me, i tried hard!
All in all i strongly recommend this book if you are a beginner in html/css and you want to learn it "the right way".

Good Intro, Some Flaws
I'm planning on using this book as a text for an intro to web design course.Overall, it is a great introduction.

What I like about the book are:

It's generally got a great flow [one exception below - ch.8] and has very good explanations for how HTML & CSS are used together to make well designed web pages. The text easily moves from the basic (html tags) to novice (basic CSS) and then more advanced topics like adding graphics, positioning, using tables, and implementing forms. The content is provided in a very accessible way that builds upon previous learnings. And the information is presented in a fashion that most newcomers to web design/publishing can easily understand.

The main caveats I have with the book are:

The book propounds using XHTML, which is still a hotly debated topic whether it should even be used for making public web pages. XHTML is arguably a dead standard as of Dec. 2009. It's also problematic since XHTML STILL is not properly parsed by the most widely used browser in the marketplace (MSIE) - esp. when served as "text/html" as recommended in this book. XHTML pages often "just break" or refuse to properly work with IE, and using XHMTL can break typical usage of some scripting languages, esp. JavaScript.There's even a Sitepoint XHTML vs. HTML FAQ (the publishers of this book) suggesting NEVER to use XHTML unless you have a very specific application that NEEDS to use it. Just because XHTML is popular, doesn't mean it's proper, and it can cause more headaches than it's worth. Kind of like using OOPHP - sure it has its place, but I wouldn't call it obligatory.

I would have moved the content of Chapter 8 into Chapter 1.It would be helpful for readers to know about web hosting and connecting to said host before attempting to publish their pages. To my mind this is definitely a "Setting Up Shop" activity - in fact I'd have these tasks prerequisite to those in Chapter 1. What's the point of creating web pages if you have no where to post them for others to see?

A possibly bigger issue is that Chapter 9 "Adding a Blog..." is nearly useless now that Blogger no longer supports FTP publishing (announced in Feb 2010 and unsupported as of May 2010). Including an entire chapter that has a "single point of failure," such as relying on a singular service that's avail. today to be around tomorrow doesn't seem like very good planning to me. It would've been nice if another, more generic alternative were presented (such as just linking to one's Blogger or Wordpress blog and how to configure them so they at least look similar, if not integrated).

It's still a pretty good book, and I'm going to use it for the class, with strong warnings about the fallability of XHTML.In class, we're going to use HTML 4.01 Strict.

Good Intro and Reference to CSS
Before purchasing this book I had a thorough understanding of HTML. I also knew how to create websites with tables in Dreamweaver, which is how my college course taught me (ugh). I did use CSS, but only in Dreamweaver to manipulate text, background, and header styles. So I bought this book with the intention of creating websites in a more efficient way. I wasn't exactly excited to learn and write scripting languages due to my tendency to be more of a designer than a developer, but this book made the process enjoyable.

The book provides the underlying principles of HTML and CSS, and then guides the reader through the development of a simple scuba diving site. After completing the book and the site I felt I had a good grasp on the basics of CSS and HTML. It was simple to understand and the author does a good job of teaching how to think about how things interact, instead of just copying code. He also teaches how to stay organized in the process. Perhaps one of the most useful parts of the book is how many references he provides. The scuba site was simple, and in my opinion, a horrible design, but he gives enough to go on for more advanced stuff.

A month after completing the book I began designing and developing my first website for a local massage business, and after that a site for a political organization. I was staying up late into the wee hours trying to figure out how to get things to work the way I wanted on both of these sites, and this book didn't provide all the answers, but it gave me the foundation to build upon and understand what other web designers/developers were talking about on other forums, sites, blogs, etc.

Overall, a good book to get started.

Tyler ... Read more

Product 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.Amazon.com Review
The entire "For Dummies" series is no insult -- these areconsistently some of the best introductions to their topicsavailable. For beginners, even using an HTML editor is daunting. Inclear language and with a dose of humor at every turn, the authorslead you through creating a web page, making it shine and taming someof the trickier aspects of web pages like CGI programming. Thecartoons sprinkled throughout the book are marvelous. Don't miss the"Top Ten HTML Dos and Don'ts" or "Ten Design Desiderata." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

HTML For Dummies
The book came with a broken CD.I was very disappointed, to say the least, because the CD is an important part of not having to type all the tedious characters of html.What else can I say?I ended up purchasing the same book from someone else.

Love Dummies Books
I'm never disappointed with Dummies books and this one is no exception. Great read, easy to learn.

An Unexpected Disappointment
Well I /was/ originally looking greatly forward to this book. I had been a fan of the "... for Dummies" books for a while now. Unfortunately I found this one to be a disappointment. Although I can appreciate having sections on good web page design, I felt it was too much to wait until chapter 4 to code your first page. Plus, there's just too much design-based content in the book overall, and not enough of actual HTML tag-based exercises.
The examples on the CD ROM are awful. They really don't give any good insight as to how the tags work. Plus, many of the example files are identical. For example, TFOOT.HTM, THEAD.HTM and TR.HTM are the exact same file. That's just inexcusably lazy. How hard could it have been to exhibit some of the attributes of those tags?
I give it two stars because if you already know HTML, it can be a pretty useful reference. Also, the troubleshooting chapter (chapter 16) was pretty good.

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.
... Read more

Product Description

The Definitive Guide to HTML & CSS--Fully Updated

Written by a Web development expert, the fifth edition of this trusted resource has been thoroughly revised and reorganized to address HTML5, the revolutionary new Web standard. The book covers all the elements supported in today's Web browsers--from the standard (X)HTML tags to the archaic and proprietary tags that may be encountered.

HTML & CSS: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition contains full details on CSS 2.1 as well as every proprietary and emerging CSS3 property currently supported. Annotated examples of correct markup and style show you how to use all of these technologies to build impressive Web pages. Helpful appendixes cover the syntax of character entities, fonts, colors, and URLs. This comprehensive reference is an essential tool for professional Web developers.

• Master transitional HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 markup
• Write emerging standards-based markup with HTML5
• Enhance presentation with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS1 and CSS 2.1)
• Learn proprietary and emerging CSS3 features
• Learn how to read (X)HTML document type definitions (DTDs)
• Apply everything in an open standards-focused fashion

Thomas A. Powell is president of PINT, Inc. (pint.com), a nationally recognized Web agency. He developed the Web Publishing Certificate program for the University of California, San Diego Extension and is an instructor for the Computer Science Department at UCSD. He is the author of the previous bestselling editions of this book and Ajax: The Complete Reference, and co-author of JavaScript: The Complete Reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An excellent reference work.
I am relatively new to web page implementation (I hesitate to call my current level of competency "web design.") This book, is not meant as an instructional book but is an excellent reference book. I know what I want to accomplish, but I don't know what the correct term or syntax is to give that instruction to the browser in either HTML or CSS "language." It doesn't go into programs, such as Dreamweaver. It probably assumes you are writing code in a text editor, which I'm not. I do use Dreamweaver and have other reference books to explain the program specifics. I use this book as a supplement that saves me a lot of hunting around in drop-down menus or entering keywords in the help menu.

When I get stumped as I plod along, I simply refer to the super-extensive table of contents or, failing that, the index or one of the many appendixes. I find an alphabetical list of elements, their meaning, and a page reference for further information. The exact same list is available for all CSS selectors. In the text section, the syntax is demonstrated, the values are explained, and the term is defined. Simpler terms have shorter explanations; longer and more complex terms have longer and more detailed explanations. (Look in the Amazon "Look Inside" option for this title. Go, page by page, over the index and table of contents and you'll see what I mean. This was what convinced me to get the book in the first place.)

Yes, there are pages of text explaining web standards, general and specific rules for HTML, XHTML, and CSS, the peculiarities of browsers, markup language and many other topics. But these are also found in other books.The absolute strength of this reference is the clear and logical presentation of the terms that we need to invoke in order for a browser to understand our intentions. For this to happen, it helps if we know how to write what we want and the correct way to write it.

A solid reference book
Whether you're an advanced or beginning HTML & CSS expert or student, this book is a great reference you can "grow" into.It is not a how-to nor does it offer practice exercises.But if you're wondering how to employ certain tags or elements, this reference will get you closer to the answers.I'm only 1/3 way through the book, but already I've learned how to use tags that were previously a mystery.Plus, the author is very honest about the future of HTML 5 and thoughtfully warns the reader of the inevitable changes that the future will bring to this standard.

Not for a beginner
This book is a good book for reference only. It is not a how-to-do instructional guide. Go with something else if you are a beginner.

Excellent reference and guide
This is my first experience with "The Complete Reference" series, and I am very impressed. I am new to html and css, and this book provides a fine introduction to both. The book has a nearly perfect balance of teaching content and reference. I read enough information to learn the basic syntax, and saw many examples of usage. Then, the reference starts; you know how to use them, here are all of the options - go for it! Now when I need to know how to do something, say positioning in css, I just look at the options, decide what I need, and test it. It really is that simple. The html and css sections are separate, but both are explained in the same format. Now that I have a basic understanding of these topics, and a great reference, I am free to move on to more advanced topics like Javascript and MySQL.

This is also the first book that I have seen that includes HTML5 and CSS3 coverage (all of the others are currently pre-order only). The coverage lists everything, but only goes into detail on the tags that are most likely to be supported, or are already supported. Since we are a couple of years away from seeing the new standards adopted, this coverage seems appropriate.

This is the type of book that I can really learn from quickly, and I hope I find more that are this good for other subjects.

Very good reference book, also covering CSS3 & HTML5
This is a comprehensive reference which covers all versions of HTML and CSS, including HTML5 and CSS3. It is written by a Web development expert who has participated in the development of the new standards, and who is very knowledgeable. I was very impressed by this book, which I think currently is the most comprehensive, complete and up to date reference book for CSS and HTML available. The book is an outstanding go-to guide for both for beginners and professional Web developers as it is fully updated for the latest CSS and XHTML standards and provides clear and concise examples.

The author, Thomas A. Powell, is president of PINT, Inc. [...], a nationally recognized Web agency. He developed the Web Publishing Certificate program for the University of California, San Diego Extension and is an instructor for the Computer Science Department at UCSD. He is also the author of the previous bestselling editions of this book and Ajax: The Complete Reference, and co-author of JavaScript: The Complete Reference. This broad expertise and background has clearly been important in the writing of HTML & CSS: The Complete Reference.

This excellent book covers all the elements supported in today's Web browsers-from the standard (X)HTML tags to the archaic and proprietary tags that may be encountered. HTML & CSS: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition contains full details on CSS 2.1 as well as every proprietary and emerging CSS3 property currently supported. I was positively surprised by the width of the coverage of CSS3. It also has good annotated examples of correct markup and style which show you how to use all of these technologies to build impressive Web pages.

Also, CSS and XHTML: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition covers the newest browser versions including Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 8, Safari and Opera, and contains much updated information about the browser and cross-browser compatibility of the various HTML and CSS elements. In addition, helpful appendixes cover the syntax of character entities, fonts, colors, and URLs.

I was very favorably impressed by this book. It is well written and well organized, and even though it is has more than 800 pages, very little space is wasted. CSS and XHTML: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition also contains good examples of useful Java. Overall the book is very up to date and so comprehensive that I think it will be useful for a long time, even though things change relatively fast as far as CSS and HTML is concerned. If you, like me, like to have a good reference book that is well organized, contains information on browser implementation and even some good examples, this is a very good choice which I strongly recommend! ... Read more

Product Description

• Now featuring more than 250 color illustrations throughout, this perennially popular guide is a must for novices who want to work with HTML or XHTML, which continue to be the foundation for any Web site
• The new edition features nearly 50 percent new and updated content, including expanded coverage of CSS and scripting, new coverage of syndication and podcasting, and new sample HTML projects, including a personal Web page, an eBay auction page, a company Web site, and an online product catalog
• The companion Web site features an eight-page expanded Cheat Sheet with ready-reference information on commands, syntax, colors, CSS elements, and more
• Covers planning a Web site, formatting Web pages, using CSS, getting creative with colors and fonts, managing layouts, and integrating scripts

Customer Reviews (14)

A good desk reference
I find that HTML, XHTML & CSS for Dummies is of the same quality (and quirkiness) as the other "for Dummies" books.This is a great desk reference book for beginners or those that don't code web pages often.I would recommend this book as a reference / side purchase to specific web coding instructional books.

Great seller.
Book came in the condition it was described.It was shipped quickly.Good price,... what more can you say!

really learn CSS once and for all
HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies brings everything together for website developers. I started and stopped teaching myself CSS at least three times. This website design book has given me the motivation, encouragement and clarity of purpose to stick with it this time.

Easy to understand examples, definitions and illustrations make this book an enjoyable read and an excellent reference to return to, time and again.

Stephanie Walsh
www.go-to-lady.com

Excellent Resource Book
This book was very easy to comprehend. I didn't have any understanding of HTML, XHTML, or CSS until I read it. Thanks to Jeff Noble and Ed Tittle, I was able to create a community website for New Bern, NC. Check it out http://www.NewBernNow.com! I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have previous knowledge of the topic.

Helped with Personal Website
As an author, I wanted my own web site to promote my books. Being an unlearned person when it comes to computer use, I was able to pick up enough from this book to help me create my own web site. I must admit the finished nine page project is not bad. The only thing I felt was lacking was a simplistic alphabetical run down of each HTML element acronym. I picked up some from here and there in the book, but not concentrated in a specific index.
All in all I am proud that with my limited computer skill, I could do the job with the help of this book. Sustained by Faith: Personal Awakening in God ... Read more

Product Description
Sams Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and CSS in One Hour a Day, Sixth Edition is the latest edition of the original worldwide bestseller. The entire book has been thoroughly revised and refined to include new detailed coverage of HTML5, the next major revision of the core language of the World Wide Web, HTML. Work on the HTML5 specification is still ongoing, but parts of HTML5 are already being implemented in new versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Opera. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for website design
This is a good text to learn this technology.It is also good for updating your skills with the introduction of HTML 5. My husband is using this as a textbook for his website design class so he can learn what I do as a web designer.While I don't agree with some of the items mentioned, I'm willing to "agree to disagree" on those points.

This text will last you a long time for learning what it contains.Learn one skill (HTML), then let it sink in your life.Add CSS, then JavaScript, PHP, etc. as you feel comfortable with the preceding skills.Trying to learn all of this all at once can be overwhelming. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the New Perspectives Series, this thorough, engaging includes everything readers need to learn to create simple to complex Web sites using HTML, XHTML, and DHTML. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Escellent Choice
I am taking a class in HTML and my school chose this book as the text for the class. I have no experience in HTML and so far the experience with this book has been great. I recommend this book to the new and experienced.

Decent book - needed more editing
The content, examples and exercises in this book were very good. I particularly thought that they chose fun and interesting exercises to illustrate the points.But there were a lot of editing problems. I would have rated this at a 4 or possibly even a 5 if the editing had been tighter. Quite a few mistakes in the examples. This tends to frustrate both students and teachers.If you are willing to put up with the editing problems this is a good introductory book for students.

Discounted college books
The book I needed for my college class, cheaper than I would have paid in the college book store. ... Read more

Product Description
This best-selling text by Patrick Carey uses the New Perspectives Series signature case-based, problem-solving approach to teach students how to create simple to advanced Web sites using HTML and XHTML. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Again, not pleased
I have contacted this seller to return this book, got no response.So now I have a book that I have no use for and not much is being offered to sell it back.This seller has been book marked to not purchase anything ever again from.

An excellent Textbook, it was good at explaining and will be a good reference too.
The title says it all.This is a book to keep in the overhead for your desk.It is easy to understand.The book is a textbook and the end of chapter exercises begin simple and become much more complex.I would expect it would work as a good text for a beginners course or a second or third course in the material, depending on the exercises you choose.

It is rare you will find a textbook that covers as much depth of material while keeping it simple enough a person new to the field can understand it without help.

I strongly recommend this book to schools as a primary text for HTML or XHTML courses.

Trying to teach yourself? Not with this book!
This book was a required textbook for a course I am taking in HTML, XHTML and CSS. The book attempts to teach you these three things in 10 chapters. In each chapter, there is a sample to work on, and then 3 or 4 assignments at the end of the chapters.

The first two chapters - both on HTML - went fine.I've got a little experience with basic HTML, so I had no problems with those.When we got into CSS, though, it was completely new territory for me.The author went way too fast for my way of learning. I had trouble with some of the assignments because the assignment would require a property from a chapter we hadn't gotten to - for instance, the "float:" property in chapter 3 (which isn't covered for several more chapters).

I found myself leaning more and more on two other books and a website, to complete the assignments in the 3rd and 4th chapters.One of those other books went much slower and was more detailed about the whys and wherefores of each property.

My advice: if you have to buy this book for a course, then you do. But if you're looking to teach yourself HTML, XHTML, or CSS - - look elsewhere!For CSS, I highly recommend a book by Richard York, called Beginning CSS, published by WROK.

Close, no cigar
If web site development on the internet held still, this book would be a winner. Sadly for the publishers, HTML and CSS are evolving faster than a printed text can keep up.
Still, as a text for beginners it is an excellent introduction provided the student if forewarned that there will be a few bumps along the way.The chapter on multimedia gets particularly frustrating.While there a a couple of typos, typically missing instructions, in the text, the "tutorial/case study/case study" format works quite well for introducing the scope and possibilities of this subject.The pacing is good, and the initial chapters are exceptional for the manner in which the examples in the tutorials are useful for the "hands-on" learning in the case studies.
While the book is in no way a complete reference, it's still an excellent text for getting one's feet wet in the subject, with one quibble and and one caution.The quibble:they authors, perhaps to reassure new readers, state that HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is not a programming language.This writer, having programmed computers for close to 40 years, says that HTML is most definitely a programming language, and so is CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), with most of the advantages and disadvantages pertaining thereto.The caution:to use this book well, the student will need to use a text editor (like Microsoft's Notepad) rather than a word processor (such as Microsoft's Word or Wordpad).For best results the student should use a more developed text editor than Notepad.

Lessons in Frustration
I have just completed a university level course using Patrick Carey's text NEW PERSPECTIVES HTML AND XHTML, 5th Edition. I'll admit to having an extensive background as a student and to being over 70 with 40 years as a classroom instuctor.
1. Text (physical) -- high gloss paper, small type, and colored backgrounds for charts of important information are very difficult to read even with a magnifying glass. User's light source must be perfect for the pages not to produce a glare, which again impedes readability. It is difficult to handle or lay in a position to move from section to section (I used heavy metal clamps.).
2. There is a major difference between a glossary and an index, which made locating information time consuming since the only other method is turning the pages one-by-one.
3. Instructions are confusing with little building on previous information.
4. There are long discussions of elements of the code that are no longer valid--but the student is only told that at the end of the section. Tip sections are interesting in that in more than one instance this is where information for completing a problem was located.
5. Practice lessons are a hodge-podge of excessive verbal instructions, at times using a word that have just been explained as an attribute for a different purpose -- so the student is left playing guessing games as to what they are to accomplish.
6. When it takes an experienced computer user over seventy hours to complete one assignment; it falls under the heading of absurd.
7. For what audience was the books written? To impress fellow instructors or for a student who is trying to learn the code? I don't think the author has any idea.
Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.
... Read more