What is semantic markup and why should you care?

If you’re going to hire a Web Designer, it’s important to know how that Web Designer writes HTML. My definition of semantic markup is using HTML tags based on the meaning of the content they contain. HTML documents are really nothing more than structured outlines. Groundbreaking, right? Consider the following HTML:

1. <div class="content">
2. <h1>Types of Cheese</h1>
3. <h2>Cheddar</h2>
4. <p>Cheddar cheese is very yummy.</p>
5. <h2>Swiss</h2>
6. <p>The holes in swiss cheese are due to bacteria.</p>
7. </div>

Even if you don’t know HTML very well, you can still see that the code above is structured according to the content inside each set of tags. The <div> tag represents a division, or section of the page; this section happens to be about cheese. The <h1> tag represents the most important heading, in this case “Types of Cheese”. HTML is best written, with care, according to what the content on the page actually means.

It’s elementary, dear Watson.

Handwritten, semantic code is easier to read. If the code is easier to read, it will be easier to edit. If the code is easier to edit, it will be faster to edit, thus saving time, which saves money.

Searchable.

Semantic code is also easier for machines to read—machines like search engines. Some search engines, like Google, may even reward semantically written code.

The only certainty is change.

When it’s time to change the layout, very little structurally sound HTML will need to change—updates to presentation should be left to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Sweet. That’s more money saving, in case you were wondering.

About me.

I have a BFA in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University, which I was formally awarded in 2002. I had finished up most of the degree requirements in 2000, and was working on my Senior Paper/Project while I worked for a few months at American Greetings and later began at DigiKnow in early 2001. Both experiences gave me the technical foundation of print and Web Design.

In 2004, I was hired at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company. At Wyndham, I began learning HTML and CSS from a semantic perspective, as the Web community was beginning to understand the benefits of separating structure from presentation.

In my career, my skill set has been valuable because I know the difference between the printed and digital mediums. My passion is Web Design, where I feel the bulk of my knowledge lies, and where I will continue to learn and grow.

Now at Golfpac, Inc., my responsibilities range from designing a cohesive and interchangeable collection of Web sites to full-page magazine ads and direct mail.

I live in Orlando, Florida, where I enjoy the fresh, humid air, thunderstorms, and Florida’s unique wildlife and natural habitats. Also, I have been known to create a greeting card or two for special occasions.