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What is the Difference Between HTML and XHTML?

Updated on 29/01/2025495 Views

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To be fair, XHTML is a far-fetched language as of this point. But if you’re a geek like me, you’d know that simplicity is the best virtue. And that is exactly why you should be working with HTML.

To understand the main difference between HTML and XHTML, you need to look at how each code is treated. Without further adieu, let’s understand why we coders have mostly ditched XHTML for HTML. Along the way, learn more about their features, advantages, disadvantages, and use cases.

Defining HTML and XHTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the foundation of web development and uses tags to define the structure and content. On the other hand, XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) works with a set of predefined rules.

The main HTML and XHTML difference is flexibility. You can’t say the same about XHTML, as it is notorious for upholding the rigidity of XML in which it is built. In short, HTML defines the contents of a webpage more elegantly and allows you more leeway.

Need ideas for your next HTML project? Take a pick.

Key Points of HTML and XHTML Difference

Feature	HTML	XHTML
Basis	SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)	XML (Extensible Markup Language)
Syntax	More lenient —allows for missing closing tags for certain elements (e.g., <br>), unquoted attribute values (for certain attributes), attribute minimization (e.g., <input type=text> instead of <input type="text">)	Stricter —All elements to have closing tags, attributes to be quoted, and no attribute minimization
Case sensitivity	Not case-sensitive (e.g., <BR> is equivalent to <br>)	Case-sensitive (all tags and attributes must be lowercase)
DTD (Document type definition)	Can use multiple DTDs depending on the version of HTML (e.g., HTML 4.01 or HTML5)	Requires a specific DTD (e.g., XHTML 1.0 Strict or XHTML 1.1)
Namespaces	Not supported	Supported, allowing integration with other XML languages
Deprecated attributes	May use deprecated attributes for backward compatibility	Does not allow deprecated attributes to ensure stricter validation and future-proofing
Validation	Not mandatory	Can be validated against a specific DTD for better error checking and interoperability
Comments	Uses `` syntax	Uses XML comment syntax (``)
Content Types	Served with text/html content type	Served with application/xhtml+xml content type
Current Use	Dominant language for web development	Rarely used in new development; HTML5 has become the standard

Benefits of HTML

The benefits are obvious:

Easy to learn and use: HTML boasts a simple syntax of clear tags and attributes, making it a blessing in disguise for rookies. Create basic web pages using just a foundational understanding.

Open source and free to use: HTML does not cost you a penny! That’s right, you don’t need to purchase software to get started. A simple text editor and a web browser would do.

Flexible and adaptable: With technologies like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), you can easily control the visual appearance of web pages and add JavaScript.

Disadvantages of Html

Like all good things, HTML has its fair share of drawbacks:

Static nature: You can’t use it to create dynamic web pages with interactive elements. To enable user logins or stuff like animations, you’d have to install JavaScript alongside.

Limited complexity: While great for basic websites, HTML can become cumbersome for complex web applications with intricate layouts and numerous elements.

Limited security features: You can’t rely on HTML for your website’s security but you can try additional security features on the backend.

HTML Examples

Basic Structure

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Webpage</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to my website!</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>
</body>
</html>

Example 1

This code demonstrates different heading levels (H1-H6) and basic text formatting within a paragraph.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Headings and Paragraphs</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>This is an H1 heading</h1>
<h2>This is an H2 heading</h2>
<h3>This is an H3 heading</h3>
<p>This is a paragraph with some <b>bold</b> and <i>italic</i> text.</p>
</body>
</html>

Example 2

This code creates a link to another website and displays an image with an alternative text description (important for accessibility).

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Links and Images</title>
</head>
<body>
<p>Click <a href="https://www.example.com">here</a> to visit an example website.</p>
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of the image">
</body>
</html>

Example 3

This code creates an unordered list (ul) with list items (li). You can create ordered lists with `<ol>` tags.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Unordered List</title>
</head>
<body>
<ul>
<li>Item 1</li>
<li>Item 2</li>
<li>Item 3</li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>

Example 4

This code creates a simple table with headers (th) and data cells (td).

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Simple Table</title>
</head>
<body>
<table>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Age</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Doe</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Benefits of XHTML

Here are the benefits:

Stricter syntax: XHTML enforces all the rules in the book leading to a more well-formed and predictable code. This makes displaying web pages across browsers and devices easy.

Variety of integrations: As it’s built on XML, it can process tools to validate and manipulate data. The result? It automates tasks and integrates with other XML-based systems easily.

Future-proofing: The idea behind XHTML syntax was to create a more future-proof web development standard. So long as you continue to adhere to XHTML’s rules, your technological future should be secure.

Disadvantages of XHTML

The most common fallouts are discussed here:

Learning curve: XHTML’s syntax is not one for the faint-hearted. This can easily discourage beginners, not to mention, increase development time significantly.

Declining users: Development on XHTML standards has largely stalled in favor of HTML5. Over time, fewer resources and libraries are available for XHTML compared to the actively evolving HTML5 ecosystem.

Limited browser support: While XHTML aimed for wider adoption, it never achieved the same level of universal browser support as HTML.

Examples

Example 1. Basic XHTML page

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<title>XHTML Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<p>This is a simple XHTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>

Example 2. XHTML with image and link

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<title>XHTML with Image</title>
</head>
<body>
<p>Welcome to our website!</p>
<img src="logo.png" alt="Company Logo" />
<p>Learn more about us on our <a href="about.html">About Us</a> page.</p>
</body>
</html>

Example 3. XHTML with Table

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<title>XHTML Table Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Products</h2>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Product Name</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>T-Shirt</td>
<td>$19.99</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mug</td>
<td>$9.99</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Common Errors Made in XHTML

Feeling lost? Go through the HTML tutorial: the complete guide to the language. For now, here are some common errors in HTML and XHTML, along with how to fix them in short examples:

1. Missing or mismatched closing tags

Error (HTML): `<br>` (missing closing tag)
Fix (XHTML): `<br />` (add closing tag)

2. Incorrect case sensitivity (XHTML only)

Error (XHTML): `<BR>` (uppercase tag)
Fix (XHTML): `<br>` (lowercase tag)

3. Unquoted attribute values

Error (HTML): `<input type=text>`
Fix (HTML/XHTML): `<input type="text">` (quote the value)

4. Missing Document Type Declaration (XHTML only)

Error (XHTML): No DTD at the beginning
Fix (XHTML): Add a DTD specifying the XHTML version (e.g., `<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">`)

5. Using deprecated elements or attributes

Error (HTML/XHTML): `<font color="red">` (deprecated font tag)
Fix (HTML/XHTML): Use CSS for styling (e.g., `<span style="color: red;">` )

Are HTML and XHTML Similar?

I may have just told you the differences between HTML and XHTML, but truth be told, they have their strengths too. While HTML is known for being progressive and having a large fan following, XHTML is no less useful with its set of advanced webpage blueprints.

So, to sum up, the goal remains the same i.e. to create functional web pages. Both of them even use the same elements like <h1> for headings and <p> for paragraphs.

To sum up even better, HTML is like writing a casual text, while HTML is a formal essay. After all, when it comes to the XHTML vs HTML5 war, both parties stand equally equipped.

Read more about XHTML in this short read.

How to Migrate Code From HTML to XHTML

Migrating HTML to XHTML lets you make the code stricter. How so? Read below.

Test: Try converting a small part first.
Validate HTML: Fix any errors in your HTML code first.
Syntax:

Lowercase tags (`<h1>` instead of `<h1>`)
Close all tags (`<br/>` instead of `<br>`)
Quote attributes (`<input type="text">`)

DTD: Add a Document Type Declaration at the beginning.
Namespaces (optional): Define them to avoid conflicts.
Validate XHTML: Check your converted code for errors.

In Conclusion

XHTML has seen its fair share of days and so has HTML. The only difference between HTML and XHTML caters to different levels of expertise. If you’re wondering what is XHTML as opposed to the versatility posed by HTML5, you should check out more blogs to understand the difference.

Now that we’ve wrapped things up, here’s a nugget of wisdom. Consider taking up a professional certificate course to take your development career a step further. And guess what? upGrad offers some of the best courses out there. Do check them out!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between HTML and XHTML?

The primary difference between HTML and XHTML lies in how strictly the rules of coding are followed. For instance, HTML is more flexible and omits certain tags without creating a fuss while XHTML demands a well-written code for any function.

Which is better: XHTML or HTML?

HTML5 is generally considered superior to XHTML due to its updated features and broader support, despite XHTML's historical emphasis on functionality and usability.

What is XHTML with an example?

If you are looking for an example of XHTML, many have been illustrated in this tutorial.

What are the different types of XHTML?

Although XHTML isn’t divided into different types in itself, it follows the DTD. According to those guidelines, there are 3 options —XHTML 1.0 Strict, XHTML 1.0 Transitional, and XHTML 1.0 Frameset.

What is XHTML used for?

XHTML started as an attempt to create a standardized version of HTML for building web pages. For now, it is mostly used for theoretical purposes and systems requiring integration with new code.

What format is XHTML?

XHTML is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML.)

How do HTML and XHTML differ in syntax?

When it comes to the XHTML vs HTML game, there are noticeable differences. Take, for instance, case sensitivity which shows up in XHTML but not in HTML. You can find other differences like closing tags, attributes, and even document type declaration (DTD.)

Which one is more widely used?

HTML offers more flexibility and updates comparatively. These features are far superior to the early-day XHTML layout.

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