Modularization
The XHTML modularization-model defines the modules of XHTML.
Why XHTML Modularization?
XHTML contains most of the functionality a web developer will need.
For some purposes XHTML is too large and complex, and for other purposes it's too simple.
By splitting XHTML into modules, the W3C (World Wide web Consortium) has created small and well-defined sets of XHTML elements that can be used separately for small devices, or combined with other XML standards in more complex applications.
With modular XHTML, designers can:
- Choose the elements to be supported by a device
- Simplify XHTML for small devices
- Extend XHTML for complex applications by adding new XML functionality (like MathML, SVG, Voice and Multimedia)
- Define XHTML profiles like XHTML Basic (a subset of XHTML for mobile devices)
XHTML Modules
W3C has split the definition of XHTML into 28 modules:
| Module name | Description |
|---|---|
| Applet Module | Defines the deprecated* applet element |
| Base Module | Defines the base element |
| Basic Forms Module | Defines the basic forms elements |
| Basic Tables Module | Defines the basic table elements |
| Bi-directional Text Module | Defines the bdo element |
| Client Image Map Module | Defines browser side image map elements |
| Edit Module | Defines the editing elements del and ins |
| Forms Module | Defines all elements used in forms |
| Frames Module | Defines the frameset elements |
| Hypertext Module | Defines the a element |
| Iframe Module | Defines the iframe element |
| Image Module | Defines the img element |
| Intrinsic Events Module | Defines event attributes like onblur and onchange |
| Legacy Module | Defines deprecated* elements and attributes |
| Link Module | Defines the link element |
| List Module | Defines the list elements ol, li, ul, dd, dt, and dl |
| Metainformation Module | Defines the meta element |
| Name Identification Module | Defines the deprecated* name attribute |
| Object Module | Defines the object and param elements |
| Presentation Module | Defines presentation elements like b and i |
| Scripting Module | Defines the script and noscript elements |
| Server Image Map Module | Defines server side image map elements |
| Structure Module | Defines the elements html, head, title and body |
| Style Attribute Module | Defines the style attribute |
| Style Sheet Module | Defines the style element |
| Tables Module | Defines the elements used in tables |
| Target Module | Defines the target attribute |
| Text Module | Defines text container elements like p and h1 |
* Deprecated elements should not be used in XHTML.
