HTML DOCTYPE Tutorial

The DOCTYPE declaration should be the first thing in an HTML document, even before the opening <html> tag.

The DOCTYPE declaration simply informs web browsers which mark-up language and which version of the markup language the page is written in.

The DOCTYPE declaration refers to a Document Type Definition, or DTD for short. The DTD specifies the rules for the markup language so browsers can render the content according to established standards.

DOCTYPE Declarations

Below are the DOCTYPE declarations recommended by the W3C.

HTML 4.01 Strict

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

The above DTD contains all the standard HTML elements and attributes, but does not include deprecated elements. Framesets are not allowed with this DTD. Framesets have their own DTD which is listed further below.

HTML 4.01 Transitional

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

The above DTD contains all the standard HTML elements and attributes, including presentational and deprecated elements. This is probably the most comment DTD in use and the one I recommend for most webmasters. Framesets are not allowed with this DTD. Framesets have their own DTD which is listed further below.

HTML 4.01 Frameset

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

The above DTD is for use with framesets.

This concludes the HTML DOCTYPE Tutorial.

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