Browser Features and Behavior
Issue 4 August 2006 155
Document Skeleton
Certain tags define the basic framework of an HTML document. Most browsers are usually good
at dealing with missing tags. However, when you apply style sheets it is essential that you follow
the tag structures. Even ignoring style sheets, it is considered good style to follow the HTML
rules. The following tags make up the basic skeleton of an HTML document:
●<html> indicates the start of an HTML document.
●<head> indicates the start of an HTML document’s header. Title, meta definitions,
ECMAScript function definition, document level style sheet definition, and external style
sheet inclusion are all done in the header section.
●<title> sets the title of the document. This is usually shown in the frame of the browser
window. On the telephone, the title is shown in the Top Line Information Display Area.
●<body> indicates the start of the body of an HTML document. The rest of the document is
embedded between the start and end <body> tags.
●<meta> adds additional information about an HTML page. Web walking tools usually use
this tag, which is of little use in browsers, and has no effect on the telephone.
Content-Based Style
Content-based tags deal with identifying words, phrases or chunks of text, or images as having
a specific meaning or context. The intent of content-based tags is not to show physically marked
text. However, it is not wrong for a browser to show content-based text in a distinct style, such
as font style.
Each content-based tag is shown with a brief description, and any physical effects imposed by
the browser.
●<abbr> indicates an abbreviation.
Using this tag has no effect.
●<address> indicates an address.
Using this tag has no effect.
●<acronym> indicates an acronym.
The enclosed text is shown in an italic font.
●<cite> indicates a bibliographic citation or reference.
The enclosed text is shown in an italic font.
●<code> indicates source code of a program.
The enclosed text is shown in a monospaced font.
●<del> indicates deleted text. It shows editorial markup.
A line is drawn through enclosed text.