HTML5 semantic web elements - why should I use them in a internal app
html, semantics
Solution
Possible gains:
- Readability
- Accessibility
- Lightweight applications
- Less constraint on the network (smaller file sizes)
- Easier to expand
- Easier to train a second developer to fit in
- Chance to practice good habits for developing external sites
Possible drawbacks:
- None?
Basically,
<header>
<hgroup>
<h1>Logo and Application Title</h1>
<h2>Clever Slogan</h2>
</hgroup>
<nav>
<ul>
<li>Home</li>
<li>About</li>
<li>Contact</li>
<li>Test</li>
<li>Stuff</li>
</ul>
</nav>
</header>
Looks better than...
<div id="header">
<div class="top_logo">
<h1>Logo and Application Title</h1>
<h2>Clever Slogan</h2>
</div>
<div class="navigation">
<ul>
<li>Home</li>
<li>About</li>
<li>Contact</li>
<li>Test</li>
<li>Stuff</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Also in styles
<style type="text/css">
header hgroup {}
header nav li {}
</style>
Looks better than
<style type="text/css">
#header .top_logo {}
#header .navigation li {}
</style>
Problem
Why should I use HTML5 semantic web elements in a internal application? Semantic elements seem to be good for search engines to detect which elements are specific to navigation, articles, etc. What will I gain if I use these elements in client-only HTML-based applications?