Useful hints for web authors.
Guys,
I found these "useful hints" at http://www.uoregon.edu/~cbell/contou...pub/hints.html that are really interesting to know and learn when making a website, more to those of you that have your own personal websites. Although there are only a few hints i think they are really the exact, useful and important ones. You can find more info in the link above.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use good style
Every web page should be "signed and dated." That is, it should indicate who is responsible, how to contact that person, and a date showing when the page was last updated.
Image tags should always include the ALT attribute.
Provide navigational cues and context so that users can easily return to your home page or other reference points.
Check links frequently to make sure they are still active. The web changes frequently as pages are relocated or removed.
Know the law
Respect copyright. Unless you know for sure that something is in the public domain, you must always ask for permission before using someone else's content.
It is acceptable to borrow ideas on HTML coding from other web sites, but you should not copy the entire structure of a web site without permission and acknowledgement. (Note: you can view the source of any HTML document from the Edit or View menu in your browser.)
Do not violate other intellectual property rights (trademark and patent rights).
In short, if someone else created it, don't use it unless the author gives you permission to use it or you know for certain that you have the right to use it.
Keep it simple
Emphasize content over form.
Graphics and multimedia are nice, but remember that such elements add to the time it takes for users to download your page. Only use graphics and other multimedia when they contribute to the content or usability of your page.
Always test your documents with different browsers and computers. What looks good with one configuration may look horrid with another.
Remember that advanced techniques such as scripting, Java applets and style sheets may work only with the latest version of Netscape or Internet Explorer. Follow the principle of graceful degradation, which meants that if you are going to use advanced technologies, make sure that your document at least displays acceptably in older browsers that cannot interpret the cutting edge features.
Make a commitment
Quality pages require continuous updating and revision. Unless you are doing this strictly as a learning exercise, you should plan to spend several hours each week maintaining your site.
Learning HTML is an ongoing process. There is a great deal more to know that what we have taught here. Standards are evolving and new technologies are constantly being implemented. Spend some time studying other web pages to get ideas and read to keep up with the technology.
