Optional Closing Tags in HTML - DevHunters.com l Webmaster Forum - Web Advertising - Web Design

Zemfik · 03-01-2008, 02:17 PM

For as long as I've been validating web pages, I never realized that the closing </head> tag was optional in HTML. I feel as if I've missed the boat at times.

While I'm all for trimming excess code, I just cannot for the life of me strip out closing tags because they are optional in HTML. I'd be concerned that something, somewhere would not parse the document correctly if I removed the closing </head> element.

Are my concerns unfounded?

SpOrTsDuDe.Reese · 03-01-2008, 03:33 PM

There are tags, such as the <img> tag which there is no closing tag for, but you need to close </head>. It's standard markup and you cannot validate your page without it. If you don't close tags, everything that is put on there, will be not the way you want. Make sure you stay out of quirks mode by adding a doc type. w3schools.com has a lot of good resources.

domainer50 · 03-01-2008, 11:25 PM

Ive never not closed a tag :) No non closers here :)

Hunter1 · 03-01-2008, 11:42 PM

If you want to be XHTML complient, don't even consider leaving something open if you do not have to which in most cases, you donn't have to.

Especially a Head Tag!!!

sekuchi · 03-03-2008, 09:12 AM

Me too, I always close it...

SpOrTsDuDe.Reese · 03-04-2008, 06:07 AM

Is the OP ever going to post back to this thread?

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03-01-2008, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zemfik New Hunter Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 / 0% Hunter Bux: 10.00	Optional Closing Tags in HTML For as long as I've been validating web pages, I never realized that the closing </head> tag was optional in HTML. I feel as if I've missed the boat at times. While I'm all for trimming excess code, I just cannot for the life of me strip out closing tags because they are optional in HTML. I'd be concerned that something, somewhere would not parse the document correctly if I removed the closing </head> element. Are my concerns unfounded? __________________ Austin tx apartments austin texas

03-01-2008, 03:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
SpOrTsDuDe.Reese Senior Moderator Space Invaders Champion! Breakout Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Copter Champion! Archery 2000 Champion! Curveball Champion! Zombie Survival Champion! Pacxon Champion! SD-Pong Champion! Tennis Challenge Champion! Rabbit Hunting Champion! Let It Ride Champion! Hot Shots Champion! Van Wilder Beer Pong Champion! Tournaments Won: 2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Whiteford, MD Posts: 1,126 iTrader: 1 / 100% Hunter Bux: 1,786.00	There are tags, such as the <img> tag which there is no closing tag for, but you need to close </head>. It's standard markup and you cannot validate your page without it. If you don't close tags, everything that is put on there, will be not the way you want. Make sure you stay out of quirks mode by adding a doc type. w3schools.com has a lot of good resources. __________________ +-(X)HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SEO, PHP, Flash-+ Code: <style type="text/css"> u { text-decoration: none; } </style> GameYin. Redesigning for DevPlooth.

03-01-2008, 11:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
domainer50 Peter J. Foti Bowling Champion!Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 318 iTrader: 0 / 0% Hunter Bux: 0	Ive never not closed a tag :) No non closers here :) __________________ PeterFoti.com Register Domains

03-01-2008, 11:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hunter1 The Dev Hunter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 1,868 iTrader: 9 / 100% Hunter Bux: 18,026.33	If you want to be XHTML complient, don't even consider leaving something open if you do not have to which in most cases, you donn't have to. Especially a Head Tag!!! __________________ l Bid for Position l Website Advertising l Web Directory l Be a star in The DevHunters Directory

03-03-2008, 09:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
sekuchi Field Master Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 179 iTrader: 0 / 0% Hunter Bux: 0	Me too, I always close it... __________________ DVD Videos: Third Watch DVD \| Dean Martin \| The Three Stooges DVD

03-04-2008, 06:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
SpOrTsDuDe.Reese Senior Moderator Space Invaders Champion! Breakout Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Copter Champion! Archery 2000 Champion! Curveball Champion! Zombie Survival Champion! Pacxon Champion! SD-Pong Champion! Tennis Challenge Champion! Rabbit Hunting Champion! Let It Ride Champion! Hot Shots Champion! Van Wilder Beer Pong Champion! Tournaments Won: 2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Whiteford, MD Posts: 1,126 iTrader: 1 / 100% Hunter Bux: 1,786.00	Is the OP ever going to post back to this thread? __________________ +-(X)HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SEO, PHP, Flash-+ Code: <style type="text/css"> u { text-decoration: none; } </style> GameYin. Redesigning for DevPlooth.

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