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Obfuscated HTML Contest?

Posted by Cliff on from the they-do-it-for-other-languages dept.

ptaff asks: "We all know the nightmare of typical HTML developer: you get different results on different browsers/platforms (and we're talking HTML only, no CSS/scripts). To make matters worse, MSIE has this ability to render completely invalid HTML code (missing tags, invalid nesting, you get the point). Mozilla and its many cousins are trying hard to keep up with the inconsistencies of today's 'web-optimized-for-MSIE', but where is the limit? As an exercise, can you build the most malformed HTML document that can be rendered in MSIE but will choke on others browsers?"

2 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Theory & practise by RyoSaeba · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, i guess that's the difference between theoritical stuff (HTML standard) and the practical implementation (browsers)...
    Maybe also the time required for a feature to become standard HTML plays a role, think people are gonna wait some months to have a feature, when the browser (broken or anticipating the new standard) can make it already ?

    Isn't that after all also how the Internet itself works usually ? ie people do something in different ways, usually without any standard, or extending one, then some mix of everything becomes 'the' new standard (RFCs & so on) ?

    --
    Tsuyoikoto ha taisetsu da ne, dakedo namida mo hitsuyousa (Strength is an important thing, but tears too are necessary)
  2. Re:The use of this excersise by Captain+Large+Face · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I strongly disagree. HTML standards are standards for a very good reason -- it allows ALL producers of HTML clients AND HTML editors to aim for a common goal.

    Following the "standards" as laid down by Internet Explorer will mean those writing HTML documents will continue in bad habits learnt during the so-called browser wars between Microsoft and Netscape. If you take 10 random sites and check the source code of the home page, I'd wager than none of them are using valid HTML 4, although the standard has been public for over four years!