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 TechnicalTalk » Graphics and Web Design » HTML/XHTML/DHTML & CSS
 Optional Closing Tags in HTML

[Anchor]

Anchor  

 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?

[polas]

polas  

 Re: Optional Closing Tags in HTML

That seems strange, I would consider not closing a tag to be very poor style, even if a web browser does parse it correctly. Really, it takes very little effort to do </head> and it avoids any issues with tools written by authors who do not realise that that closing tag is optional.

[katiedeneuve]

katiedeneuve  

 Re: Optional Closing Tags in HTML

Leaving HTML tags option is a real bad idea and closing tags is not difficult too, and it can annoy those who don’t know about it.

[Wally]

Wally  

 Re: Optional Closing Tags in HTML

100% agreement on the bad idea comment, it's lazy coding leaving things like closing tags out. Never let yourself fall into bad habits they have a way of biting you in the rear down the road.

[polas]

polas  

 Re: Optional Closing Tags in HTML

Never let yourself fall into bad habits they have a way of biting you in the rear down the road.

Agreed!

[Admin]

Admin  

 Re: Optional Closing Tags in HTML

To be a Good programmer always remember to follow the rules that exist for that language.
Missing closing tags in HTML is considered as poor programming practice and it can put bad impression about you if somebody viewing your site notices it. As every one said it really takes a small amount of time to write the closing tag, so don't ignore it.