Difference Between DHTML and XHTML (With Table)

DHTML is also known as Dynamic HyperText Markup Language, can make a web page look contentful, interactive, animative, without the browser erasing or deleting everything. It uses the help of JavaScript, CSS, DOM, and HTML, in order to design a dynamic web page on the browser. Additionally, Netscape and Microsoft are both compatible. 

In the case of XHTML is also known as eXtensive HyperText Markup Language. It is the up-and-coming evolution of the internet. It makes use of XML language(an important tool that describes the data of content on the internet) to mirror and extend the versions of HTML documents into easily accessible web pages. 

Comparison Table Between DHTML and XHTML

What is DHTML?

DHTML is an acronym for the word Dynamic HyperText Markup Language. The purpose of developing DHTML is to create dynamic web pages in place of static ones. It is a combination of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and DOM programming. 

The archetype of DHTML was developed by Microsoft in 1997, alongside the development of Internet Explorer4. With those additional scripting languages, DHTML enables changing of variables in the setting in order to display a dynamic web page. These interactive web pages are generated in real-time, such that a lot of codes have to be accessed on the web server, before displaying on the client’s web page. 

And for this reason, HTML acts as the builder of the web page, followed by JS (Client-Side scripting language), where using cookies, determines the user’s need. In addition to it, CSS redesigns and style the page more dynamic with a little amount of coding work.

And lastly, DOM (Document Object Method), manipulates the whole static content into a dynamic one. Speaking of DHTML features, one can change the tags and properties, used for real-time positioning, generation of dynamic fonts, used for data binding, creating interactive and animated web pages, enabling the use of methods, events, properties, and codes. 

What is XHTML?

XHTML is the abbreviated form of eXtensive HyperText Markup Language. It helps the users to transform an HTML web page into an XML page. It is developed by World Wide Consortium (W3C), enabling the use of XML language. 

The aboriginal of XHTML, namely, XHTML 1.1, was back in January 2000 developed as a prototype of the XHTML family. Furthermore, an XHTML document would consist of three main parts, such that DocType (indicating the type of the document, basically of three types, Transitional DTD, Strict DTD, and Frameset DTD), head (declares the title and other attributes), and body (the content of the webpage, with tags included). 

Over and above, XHTML documents are put together by XML tools. So accordingly, it makes it easy for the users to maintain, convert, and edit XHTML documents since they are standardized web pages. In a nutshell, they are more accurate and compatible with many browsers. 

Or to put it in simple words, this technology is what is going to rule the digital world. Speaking of its features, an XHTML document has to have a few prerequisites, such as closing tags that are nested within, subsequently, to use less bandwidth, should be developed on the base of XML language, and thereby render well-formed web pages. 

Main Differences Between DHTML and XHTML

1. DHTML is the combination of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and DOM. Whereas, XHTML is a dialect associated with the XML language coding system. 
2. DHTML requires a lot of coding work, while XHTML doesn’t allow lenient coding practices once the web page is created. 
3. DHTML makes the contents of HTML change from time to time, while XHTML allows the users to build their own tag. 
4. DHTML is a Microsoft-derived function, while XHTML is a structured form of HTML.
5. All the elements in the DHTML use the document.writ() method, on the contrary, XHTML’s elements should be properly nested within each other. 
6. DHTML works on the base of DOM (Document Object Model), whereas, in the case of XHTML, it apposites with the XML structure. 

Conclusion

Both DHTML and XHTML are part and parcel of web pages that exist on the internet. However, each is associated with a different purpose. In such a way, DHTML creates dynamic web pages, where it displays different content each time it’s viewed. Whereas, the latter enhances the compatibility of HTML documents on the browser by making use of XML language. Moreover, XHTML documents are made up of strict XML-based syntax. 

And DHTML creates interactive and animated websites through the use of dynamic markup languages (such as HTML), client-side scripting languages (such as JavaScript), and presentation definition languages (such as CSS). On the whole, using DHTML, users can make their web pages more interactive and animated by adding effects.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Y_MdAmjLPVYC&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=dhtml+&ots=_OZSRAc_2f&sig=YRXriI7nxARZfdAko2UZ_xSlyc4
2. https://www.narcis.nl/publication/RecordID/oai:cwi.nl:12633