...in search of HTML 5.

HTML, which stands for Hypertext Mark-up Language, is the scripting language used to tell Web browser how to display text, links and other features on Web pages. It is typically combined with CSS, Cascading Style Sheets, to define the appearance across different browsers. Standards for both HTML and CSS are developed by the W3C, or World Wide Web Consortium.

HTML has existed since 1991; well before most people were accessing the internet from their homes. Cascading Style Sheets were introduced in the late 90's, but full browser support wasn't available for several years. In fact, Internet Explorer 6, which was released in 2001, doesn't full support the CSS 2 standards that were published in 1998.

Now, sit back and think about what you could do online in 2001, compared to what you can do today. Now, pull out your smartphone (you may remember, we talked about them last June) and see what you can do online there.

We're all still programming for standards that were released in 1998 (for CSS) and 1999 (the latest for HTML), incorporating new technology as best as the standards and browsers allow. But some people are still using a browser from 2001 – Internet Explorer 6 – that doesn't conform to even those standards.

The W3C moves slowly... slower than browser versions... the recommendations for HTML 4.01 were released in December 1999; the Working Draft (step 1 of 5 in their process) of the HTML 5 standards was released in January 2008. But the changes it will bring will make it easier for programmers to incorporate snazzy new technology, like Adobe Flash and other video technology, and is expected to make document editing easier for the non-programmers among us.

Of course, once their recommendation for the HTML 5 standards is announced, new versions of the popular browsers will have to be created; the older browsers will just ignore the new functionality. Perhaps then, people will upgrade from Internet Explorer 6, so they don't miss out on the new features.