no-cache tag in xhtml

v-six · 12-01-2005, 07:15 PM

Hi guys, really quick question and I promise I'll leave you alone.
The tag for no-cache that I've seen everywhere is
<meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache">
but this doesn't validate at W3. I changed it to
<meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache"/>
and it validates fine. Is there any reason for this, and any problem with putting the slash in?

ebackhus · 12-01-2005, 07:22 PM

Well, the / usually is used in closing tags as I'm sure you know. Why W3 didn't validate it is beyond me. More importantly, does it work without it?

v-six · 12-01-2005, 07:25 PM

It works without the closing tag. The weird thing is, if you look up no-cache, everywhere you see it will be the version without the closing tag.

**DumberDrummer** · 12-01-2005, 11:27 PM

Ok, there have been some changes over time in what the w3 considers "proper" html, which is usually to normal html what oxford english is to our vernacular.

Anyway, one of the things they require for xhtml 1.0 strict is a closing tag for ALL tags, even ones that don't normally close, like img, meta, etc...

The way to do it "properly" is to self-close the tag.

So where you used to go <img src="foofoo.jpg" alt="foofoo">

You now have to self close it so it will validate: <img src="foofoo.jpg" alt="foofoo" />

Same with BR: <br /><br />

and so forth.

Just one of the ways the W3 is trying to clean up and standardize Markup language.

Sidenote: some older browsers won't render the tag properly unless you add a space after the tag text and the self-close, ex: <br/> as opposed to <br />.

**Grove** · 12-01-2005, 11:31 PM

Good Point DD. The languages are being updated all the time. XHTML must be in the proccess of adding the / as it will become important as new code in the future will need to use it.

They are also trying to stay consistent with the other languages.

12-01-2005, 07:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
v-six Manager Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: High Falls, NY Posts: 2,073 OS: OS X for mac, XP Pro for PC	no-cache tag in xhtml Hi guys, really quick question and I promise I'll leave you alone. The tag for no-cache that I've seen everywhere is <meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache"> but this doesn't validate at W3. I changed it to <meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache"/> and it validates fine. Is there any reason for this, and any problem with putting the slash in? __________________ mysql> --i-am-a-dummy

12-01-2005, 07:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,767 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 25	Well, the / usually is used in closing tags as I'm sure you know. Why W3 didn't validate it is beyond me. More importantly, does it work without it? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

12-01-2005, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
v-six Manager Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: High Falls, NY Posts: 2,073 OS: OS X for mac, XP Pro for PC	It works without the closing tag. The weird thing is, if you look up no-cache, everywhere you see it will be the version without the closing tag. __________________ mysql> --i-am-a-dummy

12-01-2005, 11:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
DumberDrummer Cymru am byth Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,377 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2 My System	Ok, there have been some changes over time in what the w3 considers "proper" html, which is usually to normal html what oxford english is to our vernacular. Anyway, one of the things they require for xhtml 1.0 strict is a closing tag for ALL tags, even ones that don't normally close, like img, meta, etc... The way to do it "properly" is to self-close the tag. So where you used to go <img src="foofoo.jpg" alt="foofoo"> You now have to self close it so it will validate: <img src="foofoo.jpg" alt="foofoo" /> Same with BR: <br /><br /> and so forth. Just one of the ways the W3 is trying to clean up and standardize Markup language. Sidenote: some older browsers won't render the tag properly unless you add a space after the tag text and the self-close, ex: <br/> as opposed to <br />. __________________ Living with Louie dog's the only way to stay sane _____________________________________________ ... and with those words so begins my lifetime of longing for the devil's warm embrace Last edited by DumberDrummer : 12-01-2005 at 11:29 PM.

12-01-2005, 11:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grove Professor/Moderator, TSF Design School Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 2,382 OS: Windows XP SP2	Good Point DD. The languages are being updated all the time. XHTML must be in the proccess of adding the / as it will become important as new code in the future will need to use it. They are also trying to stay consistent with the other languages. __________________ ========================================== Get Help: TSF Security Forum \| HijackThis \| MB's 5 Step Process Get Clean: AdAware SE \| Spybot S&D \| CWShredder \| Ewido \| CleanUp! Get Protected: SpywareBlaster \| SpywareGuard \| Windows Updates \| IE-SpyAd If TSF has helped you, please consider making a donation to help keep the board running.