XHTML Tutorial — XHTML & CSS Fundamentals Guide

Overview

This XHTML Tutorial distills essential web-authoring principles into a focused, example-driven guide. It emphasizes writing valid, standards-compliant markup and using CSS to separate presentation from content. The overview below highlights learning outcomes, core topics, practical applications, and ways to get the most value from the material so you can quickly assess whether this guide matches your learning needs.

What you will learn

Read this tutorial to gain a clear understanding of foundational web technologies: how to structure documents with proper XHTML syntax, use semantic header and paragraph elements, and document code with comments for maintainability. You will also learn why layouts belong in CSS rather than tables, how to use selectors that rely on id and class attributes to target elements, and how to apply div and span as unobtrusive structural hooks. Together these skills help you produce cleaner, more accessible, and easier-to-maintain pages that translate well into contemporary HTML5/CSS3 workflows.

Key concepts and practical takeaways

The guide concentrates on a few high-impact practices that improve real-world projects. First, strict separation of content (XHTML) and presentation (CSS) reduces duplication and simplifies updates. Second, understanding id versus class selectors provides precise, reusable styling. Third, replacing table-based layouts with CSS-based solutions promotes accessibility and responsive behavior. The manual also reinforces XHTML syntax rules—proper nesting, closing tags, and doctype awareness—so your pages validate and interoperate across tools and devices.

How this helps you in real projects

Whether you are redesigning a small business site, maintaining legacy pages, or teaching basic web development, the techniques here are directly applicable. Use id and class selectors to style navigation, banners, or widgets independently. Swap table layouts for CSS-based containers to make pages responsive and easier to update. The div and span patterns described provide predictable hooks for CSS and JavaScript integration, enabling interactive effects and progressive enhancement without compromising document structure.

Suggested learning path

To get the most from the tutorial, alternate reading with hands-on practice: start by authoring a simple XHTML page that includes headers, paragraphs, and comments. Add a separate CSS file to style typography, color, and spacing. Next, refactor a table-based layout into div/span containers using CSS positioning or modern layout modules where appropriate. Validate your markup and iterate—small projects reinforce the concepts and reveal common pitfalls.

Who should read this

This guide is aimed at beginners and early-career web designers who want a practical introduction to standards-based authoring. It is also useful for developers and content maintainers working with older XHTML code who need a concise reference for migrating toward modern CSS-driven layouts. Instructors can use the material as a compact teaching resource to explain markup correctness and style separation.

Exercises and project suggestions

• Create a basic styled page that uses div and span elements, external CSS, and validated XHTML syntax.
• Convert a simple table-based layout into a CSS layout using container elements and targeted selectors.
• Build a small FAQ module styled via classes and ids, then enhance it with unobtrusive JavaScript using the same structural hooks.

Quick FAQ

Why avoid tables for layout? Tables couple structure and presentation, reduce accessibility, and limit responsiveness. CSS-based layouts are more flexible and maintainable.

When should I use id vs class? Use id for uniquely identifying a single element and class for groups of elements that share styling or behavior.

Final note

This tutorial focuses on timeless authoring practices: clear structure, documented code, and separation of concerns. If you want to build reliable, accessible web pages and learn patterns that transition smoothly into modern HTML/CSS development, this guide is a practical starting point.