Using the slash in a BR tag

[Electroman]

I've seen this used quite a bit:

<BR />

And when i put my code though a HTML validator it came up with loads of errors that were something about .net something or other, sorry I can't remember the exact error. Either way does anyone know when your meant to use the slash in this way? is it just meant for ASP.NET or something .

Thanx

[visualAd]

The "<br />" tag (note lowcase tag name) is the proper way of writing it and it is mandatory it is done in this way in XHTML.

Where as most tags such as <a> have a terminating </a> tag the <br /> tag does not. Appending the "/" at the end signifies the tag has no end tag. This is also true for the <img> tag which must also contain an alt attritbute in XHTML and "<meta>" tags and any other tag which has no closing tag.

You should code your HTML to XHTML standard as it is replacing HTML 4 which will become dprecated in time. Anyway here's the specification which lists all the differences:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/#diffs

[mendhak]

And only if browsers would get strict about that, so would we. A quagmire, in some ways.

[Electroman]

Bit XHTML only lets you use lower case why whats wrong with upper case, I preffer upper case becuase mit lets you see the tags easily

[visualAd]

Originally posted by Electroman
Bit XHTML only lets you use lower case why whats wrong with upper case, I preffer upper case becuase mit lets you see the tags easily

Its not all that bad. Just type everything else in upper case.

[Electroman]

Posted by visualAd
Its not all that bad. Just type everything else in upper case.

But they haven't even used the lower case tags for anything, whats wrong with leaving it how it was and let the tags be case insensitive. .

[Cander]

A bit more on the subject.

<br/> tag usage is sued for any other tag in which you will have no children or other data inside of it. Like an img tag

<img href="http://"/>

it is basically just like <img href="http://"></img> but since nothing would ever go between the opening and closing tag, you just use the 1 tag with the slash.

And there is nothing 'wrong' with upper case, its just that xhtml is case sensitive and they choose lower case like is used in other case sensitive web standards like javascript.

[visualAd]

Originally posted by Cander
like is used in other case sensitive web standards like javascript.

Choosing lower case instead of making it mixed case (like Javascript) makes it a lot less complicated.

I don't like upper case tags though. I've always used lower case. I think it makes it look tidier - and you don't have to keep turning the CAPS LOCK key on and off or hold down shift.

[Cander]

All uppercase would remind me of COBOL.

<shudder>

When I said javascript being lowercase, I was referring to built in functions and keywords. All the ones I have eveer used are all lower case.

[Acidic]

Originally posted by Cander
All the ones I have eveer used are all lower case.

Math.round()
abcd.charCodeAt()
getElementById()

Those are just a few of very many.

Although, yes it is case sensitive.

[Cander]

ehh.Ive never seen those those myself.

Nevermind.

<kick in the pants>

[mendhak]

.readOnly

I tore my hair out over that one.