Here we are again with another round of patient questions about HTML5. In this article, we’ll be covering AJAX, the eternal question of <div> or <section>, our old friend Internet Explorer, how to mark up multiple blocks of content in a sidebar, and using <header> with <hgroup>.

HTML and AJAX

Arie asked:

I’m still learning about html5 and javascript, I’m wondering how html5 makes doing a lot of the things currently done in ajax and javascript more simple. Is it by providing things like the canvas that unify ideas?

Certain parts of HTML5 will indeed simplify or reduce the need for JavaScript. One such area of improvement is Web Forms 2.0, which will handle client-side form validation in the browser and provide new input types (like <input type="email"> that checks for a valid email address). Of course, you’ll still need to validate your forms on the server, but at least the browser will catch the most obvious mistakes before the user actually submits the form.

Other parts of HTML5, like Web SQL Databases and <canvas>, are essentially JavaScript APIs. They may not cut down on your need for JavaScript, but they do provide a consistent interface to some powerful functionality and will enable your application or site to do more things within (or outside of) the browser.

Cheers, Rich

<div> or <section>?

Paul asked:

Hello

I see you are using divs on your website, I thought divs should be replaced by more semantic tags such as sections or article. what did I miss?

Thanks

Hi Paul,

Just like with HTML4, you shouldn’t use <div>s or <span>s where another, more precise element would fit the bill. But for grouping arbitrary content, <div>s and <span>s remain the way to go.

Thanks, Bruce

HTML5 and IE6

Adam asked:

Greetings HTML5 Doctor,

Is it at all possible to have a HTML5 layout while 30% of our users are running IE6? We are an IT company and our website is very large so having separate versions is completely impractical. HTML5 would allow us to move on and keep our markup a lot simpler but with no concrete guarantees regarding universal support is HTML5 ever going to get off the ground within 5 years while not having to resort to javascript solutions?

Simply change the doctype and you’ll be writing HTML5! If you want to use new elements, however, you’ll need to use JavaScript to support them (for all versions of IE up to IE8). The best place to start? Read Remy’s article on How to get HTML5 working in IE and Firefox 2.

I think we’re in a position to do something about this. By using the new doctype, block-level links, and new form input types (that degrade gracefully), we can start promoting HTML5 right now.

Cheers, Rich

Multiple blocks in a sidebar

Bart asked:

On my page (revora.net) I have a sidebar with content that I deem appropriate for the aside element. The sidebar contains several blocks of content. I’ve currently made the whole bar aside and made the blocks div. Is this correct, or should I do it the other way around?

It sounds like your first approach is correct. The <div>s might be <section>s or maybe <nav> elements though, depending on their content. I suggest you read our article (and the comments) on the <aside> element.

Thanks, Tom

Header with <hgroup>

Diego asked:

Hi,

This structure is right?

<section id="choose-tip">
   <header>
       <hgroup>
           <h1>Foo Bar</h1>
           <h2>Baz Bat Qux</h2>
       </hgroup>
   </header>
   <p>lorem ipsum</p>
</section>

What I mean is, if I have a HEADER with just 2 H(n) I need to put these into a HGROUP ? Or… I can remove the HEADER and leave just a HGROUP? What’s the better solutions for it?

Thanks for all,

Diego Tres

What you have is correct. Basically, in the document outline, you will only see “Foo Bar” as the heading for that section. “Baz Bat Qux” will be hidden from the outline.

You don’t have to use a <header> within your <section> or an <hgroup> within your <header>. Similarly, you don’t have to use a <header> around your <hgroup>.

To summarise, the best solution (if you don’t require the <h2> to appear in the document outline) is what you’ve already got.

Cheers, Rich

Got a question for us?

That wraps up this round of questions! If you’ve got a query about the HTML5 spec or how to implement it, you can get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to help.