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Which HTML DOCTYPE should you use?

Submitted by rimian on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 12:19

There are several HTML document types to choose from.

HTML 4.01 Strict

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd\">

This one is a cut down version of the old HTML 4.1 that forces structure on it's author and is not really good for design artyfarty types.

HTML 4.01 Transitional

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd\">

If you're learning or not concerned with exact HTML (adding depreciated design elements) then this one is for you!

HTML 4.01 Frameset

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Frameset//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/frameset.dtd\">

Use for HTML framesets only

XHTML 1.0 Strict

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd\">

XHTML 1.0 Transitional

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd\">

XHTML 1.0 Frameset

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Frameset//EN\"
\"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-frameset.dtd\">

HTML 3.2
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN\">
Oldie but a goodie. This one will support tables with 100% height.

HTML 2.0
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN\">
For cavemen.

Submitted by bj2design on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 07:25.

Jeffrey Zeldman explains it well over at alistapart
http://alistapart.com/stories/doctype/