Product Description

This book will teach you how to build hand-crafted web pages the Web Standardistas' way: using well-structured XHTML for content and CSS for presentation. By embracing a web standards approach, you will hold the key to creating web sites that not only look great in all modern browsers, but also are accessible to a wide variety of audiences across a range of platforms—from those browsing on everyday computers, to those accessing the Web on the latest emerging mobile devices. Even if you're an absolute beginner in web design, this book will teach you how to build future-proof web pages the right way using easy-to-master tools which are, in most cases, free. Through 14 easy-to- follow chapters, we introduce you to the fundamentals of contemporary web design practice. Step by step we'll assemble well-structured XHTML webpages, which we'll then style using handcrafted CSS. By the end of the book, you'll have a firm knowledge of the essentials of web design: everything you need to know to move forward in your lifelong journey as a Web Standardista. To equip you on this noble quest, we've included enjoyable practical assignments at the end of each chapter. Embracing these challenges will not only teach you how to create great looking web sites that are the envy of your peers, but also equip you with an unrivaled knowledge of monkeys that journeyed to space and apes that starred in the movies—the real stars of this book. On completion of this book not only will you be able to create well-crafted web sites, but you will have earned the badge of a Web Standardista, proving your worth as a good citizen of the Web. In this book you'll learn how to: Assemble well-structured XHTML markup like a seasoned craftsman, with nothing but a free text editor. Create hand-coded style sheets with authority, using lean and efficient CSS. Use semantic markup to build future-proof web pages. Establish your own web address and upload your web site for the world to see. Embrace the power of the Web Standardistas' approach to create well-designed, accessible web pages that look great in all modern browsers, making the Web a better place for all.Summary of ContentsPart One: a Solid XHTML Foundation Are You a Web Standardista?Building Basic Web PagesStructured MarkupMarkup That Adds MeaningIncluding ImagesCreating Links with AnchorsGetting Your Site online Part Two: Adding Style With CSSCSS 101Styling TextA one- Column CSS LayoutA Two-Column CSS LayoutList-o-MaticHarnessing the Power of External Style Sheets Where to from Here

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #140490 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Customer Reviews

A must for any aspiring web designer
This book is an excellent introduction to standards based web design. Written in a very accessible manner Murphy and Persson walk you through creating well structured XHTML pages then show you how to style them using CSS. With a dedicated website to help you along you can't go wrong.

As a designer I have always left the programing of my client sites up to someone who knows how, thinking it was way beyond me. This book has shown me just how easy it actually is to programme them yourself and what's more I don't have to buy any expensive software get me started!

I reckon this will quickly become a university standard introduction to web design and the first port of call for any aspiring designer. Well done guys!

The best XHTML / CSS introduction around!
I really liked how this book emphasized the need for standards, semantic markup and separating content from presentation in the beginning chapters, it make sure you get the code right before dipping into CSS. I also liked how issues such as finding a good editor, using FTP and buying a domain name / hosting etc got mentions. A lot of beginners would not think of these essentials and most books do not give them a thought. One thing that a lot of books on this subject go into, that I appreciated this didn't, is IE hacks. I know they are a cruel necessity but there is nothing worse for a learner to hear at the end of their work, "however....IE, a rather popular browser doesn't play by the rules so you need to do this weird stuff as well". Things such as IE hacks can be learnt from online content and more in depth books that I would recommend you buy after reading this book.

Overall I think this will become a classic beginners book but even experienced folk will be able to benefit from it. The fact that the authors are both lecturers shows throughout as not only do they know the subject but more importantly they know how to teach it. This is something that is often missing from these sort of books. The homework sections are also great for recapping on the previous chapter and for getting the readers hands dirty. I can see a lot of colleges / universities using this book as one of their main texts for first year web students. I certainly wish this had been the first book I read when learning this stuff.

Excellent book for any aspiring web developer
This is an excellent start for anyone interested in becoming a web developer, or even people who have been hacking together websites for a while but want to built standards compliant websites from the ground up. It covers all basics and fundamentals, then layers techniques on top of this solid foundation to give you the tools to create a fully functioning website. Unlike many other beginner texts, this book also covers how to set up your domain name and hosting, invaluable to the beginner but often overlooked.

Highly recommended.