[whatwg] The m element

Keryx Web webmaster at keryx.se
Sat Feb 10 04:32:41 PST 2007


Alexey Feldgendler wrote:
> I don't like the idea of reusing an existing presentational element such 
> as <u>. Otherwise we'd immediately have the web full of incorrect uses 
> of the element.

I agree strongly.

Rule number one: Do not confuse users. Therefore it is bad usability to 
underline anything that is not a link.

Rule number two: Do not confuse developers. If developer A starts 
building an app using <u> to mean anything else but "underlined text", 
then developer B comes along, sees all existing markup - gets confused - 
and it will take quite a while for her/him to get up to speed.

The only current element that can be used instead of <m> is <span>, like 
in <span class="highlight">, <span class="ambigous"> or <span 
class="searchresult">

I think that is good enough. We do not need need the <m> element.


Lars Gunther




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