Are designers and users supposed to care about validation? Should the push the W3C gives be interpreted as a standard or a suggestion? Should we consider “validating” our web sites a religion, or merely a good practice? These questions may sound familiar, as the web standards debates continue. Well, here is some more fuel to put on the fire.
Only 1 of the winning sites for the Webby Awards validates both for html and css.
The mission statement of the Webby Awards is: “The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.” So does excellence simply mean usability and design? Or is compliance to web standards a factor? Well, the data I took from their winners shows that web compliance IS NOT a factor in the judging. A few months ago, the winners of the 2007 Webby Awards were announced. Among them, are some very content-rich and aesthetically pleasing websites. I had some time this week, so I took a look at every winner. As a designer, I couldn’t help but to pull back the curtains and dive into the code. What I found was very interesting. The table I have at the bottom of this post shows the data I found.
What was interesting to me is some of the same errors were being repeated. Not using the “alt” attribute on images; not encoding ampersands; using attributes that weren’t supported by their chosen doc type. Many sites actually came close to validation, and if they would have taken 2 minutes they could have validated. On the other hand, there were many sites that had hundreds and a few sites even thousands of errors. Their road to validation would be much longer, however not impossible.
Well, take a look at the data and you decide. Should we all contact the Webby Awards and push for change? Should we let the Webby Awards be a standard for how we design? You decide.
| Name | html version | Errors | valid css | comments |
| Green my Apple | xhtml strict | 52 | yes | Mostly involve image tags. Not closing them properly, using border=0. Also, flash plugin problems. Could be fixed using swfObject. And some link problems, using target=_blank, which they could have gotten away with if using xhtml transitional. |
| SaveTheInternet | n/a - (used html 4.01 trans). | 51 | no - 1 error | Flash plugin errors. Also forgetting to close tags. Not using css to align divs. Forgetting alt tags. |
| Electrolux Design Lab | html trans 4.1 | 10 | n/a | Problems include table attributes that don’t apply to that doc type. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| People’s Design Award | xhtml trans | 3 | yes | Forgot there alt tags |
| PoetryFoundation.org | n/a - (used 4.01 trans) | 99 | no - 8 errors | No Doc type. Using tables with attributes that don’t apply. Forgetting alt tags. Mixing ending div and table tags. |
| Dream It. Do It. Website | n/a - (used 4.01 trans) | 27 | no - 1 | No Doc type. Missing alt tags. Forgetting to use & instead of just & in dynamic urls. |
| Volvo C30 - A Product of Free Will | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 13 | no - 1 | Most of the problems lie with their calling of the javascript. Also some closing tags missed. |
| Yaris Virtual Test Drive | n/a (used 4.01 trans) | 6 | yes | Forgetting to use “type” attribute when calling javascript. Forgot alt tag. Problem with flash plugin code. |
| Zopa | html 4.0 strict | 37 | no - 13 | Problems with table and iframe attributes. Not using “alt” tags. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| Bank of America Online Banking | html 4.01 trans | 12 | yes | Using body attributes that should be applide through CSS. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| Philips Norelco Bodygroom | n/a - xhtml trans 1.0 | 8 | n/a | Not using encoded ampersands. Calling script before heading declaration. |
| HowStuffWorks | xhtml trans 1.0 | 231 | 12 | Tags not being closed properly using: “/>”. Problems calling their javascript. Forgetting alt tags. Closing tags that aren’t open. Not using encoded ampersands. |
| NYTimes | html 4.01 transitional | 353 | 6 | Problems all over the place. Images, call to scripts, ampersand encoding. |
| IKEA, Dream Kitchen | n/a - html 4.01 trans used | 15 | 2 | Mostly flash, however problems with attributes in tables, flash plugin, and call to js. |
| Flickr | html 4.01 | 18 | 3 | Some end tag problems. Not using encoded ampersands. Why are they still using tables? |
| Last.fm | xhtml 1.0 trans | 29 | 26 | Problems with forms and attributes given. Flash plugin. Calls to js. |
| Jonathan Yuen | n/a - html 4.0 | 19 | n/a | Some end tags omitted. Some attributes named incorrectly. Should have used styles for a lot of attributes. No alt tags. |
| Adobe CS2.3 - The Creative Mind | xhtml 1.0 strict | 10 | 0 | Couple tags out of place.Using “border” on image tag. |
| DealBook | html 4.01 trans | 196 | 0 | Using a lot of attributes the doc type doesn’t allow. “alt” tags not being used. Url encoding issues. |
| Bannerblog | htmo 4.01 trans | 53 | 0 | Closing tags that aren’t open. Attributes not supported by doc type — could have used css instead. Closing tags that aren’t open, ie “input”. Missing “alt” tags. |
| we make money not art | xhtml strict | 277 | n/a | Forgetting “/>” to close tags properly like “<img” or “<input”. Some “alt” tags missing. Duplicate classes called. Encoded urls missing. |
| TreeHugger.com | html 4.01 trans | 104 | 1 | A lot of “alt” tags missing. Encoded url problems. Using tables. |
| Truthdig | n/a - html 4.01 trans | 58 | 2 | Using attributes not supported by doc type. Missing “alt” tags. Using tables. |
| blip.tv | xhtml 1.0 trans | 19 | 42 | Tags out of place. Tag endings omitted. Missing “alt” tags. Using tables. |
| Verizon Dave Matthews Band | xhtml 1.0 | 13 | 10 | Flash plugin problems as well as call to javascript. |
| Best Week Ever | xhtml 1.0 trans | 294 | 68 | Re-using css Identifiers. A lot of encoded ampersand problems. Flash plugin issues. Tag placement not supported by doc type. |
| I spy with my little eye | xhtml 1.0 | 1 | 0 | All they had to do was make “onLoad” all lowercase. |
| Nothing But Nets | html 4.01 strict | 58 | 2 | Using “target” in links. Problems with “alt” tags and “border” attribute on images. |
| PlayB3yond | xhtml 1.0 trans | 21 | 0 | Omitted tags. Uppercase tags in places should be lowercase. Problem with calling javascript. |
| MOTOCOLORS | n/a - html 4.01 used | 5 | 0 | Closed tag which wasn’t open. No doc type declared. |
| MGM Grand Hotel & Casino | xhtml 1.0 trans | 74 | 5 | Capitalizing tags. Omitted closing tags. Using tables and align attributes. Alt tags missing. |
| Adobe Corporate Website | xhtml 1.0 trans | 15 | 106 | Encoded url link problems. |
| Smithsonian Photography Initiative | html 4.0 trans | 36 | 1 | Assigning attributes that don’t exist for doc type, ie “name” for images. Missing alt tags. Flash plugin issue. |
| Smithsonian Education | html 4.0 trans | 23 | n/a | Using tables. No styles. Could have solved many problems by using divs and css. Duplicate tags. |
| Army Strong Launch Site | xhtml 1.0 trans | 203 | n/a | Was really surprised to find this many errors, considering the site is flash. Still capitalized certain tags. Gave image tags unknown attributes. A lot of problems with there embeded javascript. |
| Monster Career Advice | xhtml 1.0 trans | 152 | 20 | Assigned attributes that shouldn’t be with this doc type. Capitalized some tags. End tags for tags that don’t exist. Maybe they should use there own services to get a better coder. |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class Experience Paris-Beijing | html 4.0 trans | 11 | 0 | Used attributes that aren’t supported, and used some capitalized lettering. Non encoded ampersand use. |
| Lollapalooza | xhtml 1.0 trans | 14 | 0 | Using uppercase tags, and attributes that aren’t supported. Also closing tags that aren’t open. |
| PBS KIDS Sprout–Sprout Diner | n/a html 4.01 trans used | 3 | n/a | No doc type. Tags out of place. Flash Website |
| GreatSchools | xhtml 1.0 trans | 0 | 5 | I thought we had one, but there css didn’t validate. Used values and properties that don’t exist. |
| ZOOZOOM ‘The Original Online Glossy’ | html 4.0 trans | 8 | n/a | Closing tags that aren’t open. Using attributes that aren’t supported. |
| FabSugar.com | xhtml 1.0 trans | 1920 | 927 | Nope, those aren’t dates. Tags out of place. Attributes that don’t exist. End tags for tags that aren’t open. Got lossed in their table soup. |
| The Wall Street Journal Online | xhtml 1.0 trans | 257 | n/a | Using attributes that aren’t supported. Closing tags that aren’t open. Non-encoded urls. |
| CNNMoney.com | html 4.0 trans | 137 | 8 | Using attributes that aren’t supported. Closing tags that aren’t open. Re-using css id’s. |
| Altoids.com | xhtml 1.0 strict | 18 | n/a | Not ending meta tags correctly with “/>”. Unsupported tag attributes. |
| Burger King Whopperettes | n/a | n/a | n/a | Site is password protected now |
| Gamasutra | n/a html 4.01 trans used | 253 | 11 | “alt” attributes for images not specified. Using attributes within tags that aren’t supported. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| GameSpot | xhtml 1.0 trans | 799 | 27 | Mostly encoded url problems. Problems with attributes that aren’t supported. |
| Boston’s Public Transportation System | xhtml 1.0 strict | 31 | 18 | Re-using css id’s. Some tags out of place. |
| FactCheck | html 4.01 trans | 3 | 0 | Some mixed up code with an anchor tag. |
| Yelp | html 4.01 strict | 0 | 0 | Nice work. |
| CNET.com | xhtml 1.0 trans | 951 | 78 | Some uppercase attributes. Using non-encoded URLs. Missing end tags. |
| That Guy | xhtml 1.0 strict | 4 | 0 | Problem calling javascript. Non encoded urls. |
| WebMD | xhtml 1.0 trans | 101 | 35 | Some tags out of place. Not specifying type of javascript. Missing or out of place end tags. |
| The Onion | xhtml 1.0 trans | 3 | 28 | Javascript type not specified. Missing end tag. CSS properties that don’t exist. |
| eHealthInsurance | html 4.01 trans | 55 | 0 | Missing “alt” tags. Unsupported attributes being used. End tags missing. |
| Progressive | xhtml 1.0 trans | 132 | 29 | Not closing tags properly. Javascript problems. Using capitals in some tags/attributes. |
| CLEARIFICATION | xthml 1.0 trans | 4 | 0 | Problems calling javascript. Missing “alt” attributes for images. |
| LawHelp.org | html 4.0 trans | 14 | 0 | Attributes that should be literal. Missing javascript type. Using unsupported attributes. |
| FindLaw | html 4.0 trans | 65 | 4 | Javascript type not specified. Missing “alt” attributes. Re-using tag IDs. |
| BP Carbon Footprint Calculator | xhtml 1.0 trans | 123 | 34 | Attributes that should be literal. Unsupported attributes. Missing end tags. |
| DIYNetwork.com | n/a - html 4.01 | 116 | 6 | Attributes that aren’t supported. Javascript type missing. Alt tag problems. Non-encoded urls. |
| MediaStorm | xhtml 1.0 trans | 26 | 2 | Using uppercase attributes and ones that aren’t supported. |
| Salon.com | xhtml 1.0 trans | 9 | 0 | A view elements out of place. A problem with one of their links. |
| Pan’s Labyrinth | xhtml 1.0 trans | 0 | 0 | Mostly flash. |
| The Dumpster | xhtml 1.0 trans | 3 | 0 | “alt” attribute missing. Naming id’s improperly. |
| Mono No Aware | xhtml 1.0 trans | 19 | 0 | Missing “alt” attributes. Some tags out of place. Non encoded urls. ID’s used twice. |
| BBC News | html 4.0 trans | 155 | 0 | Using unsupported attributes. Closing tags that aren’t open. “alt” attributes missing. Non encoded urls. |
| guardian unlimited | xhtml 1.0 strict | 1202 | 0 | A lot of non-encoded links. A few tags out of place. |
| NYTimes.com | html 4.01 trans | 289 | 6 | Non-encoded links. Attributes that aren’t supported. Missing “alt” attribute. |
| Know Menopause | html 4.01 trans | 12 | 0 | Mostly flash. Not linking to javascript source correctly. |
| NPR Podcasts | xhtml 1.0 trans | 101 | 1 | “alt” attributes not specified. Attributes that are unsupported. Missing closing tags. |
| OpenSecrets | n/a - html 4.01 trans | 196 | n/a | Using tables for everything. Using unsupported attributes. Missing “alt” attributes. |
| BBC Radio 1 | html 4.01 trans | 61 | 0 | Elements used that aren’t supported by the doc type. Attributes used that aren’t supported. Missing “alt” tags. Closing tags which aren’t open. |
| Yahoo Real Estate | html 4.01 trans | 104 | 210 | “alt” attribute not specified. Unsupported attributes used. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| Religion & Ethics Newsweekly | html 4.01 trans | 4 | 7 | Closing tags that aren’t open. Javascript “type” attribute missing. |
| What Is Enlightenment? | html 4.01 trans | 69 | 2 | Ending tags that aren’t open. Missing “alt” attributes. Non encoded urls. |
| Hard Rock Cafe | xhtml 1.0 trans | 112 | 17 | Using attributes that aren’t supported. Missing “alt” attributes. Closing tags that aren’t open. |
| CafePress.com | n/a - html 4.01 trans | 80 | 8 | No doc type. Unsupported attributes. Missing “alt” attributes. Closing tags that aren’t open. Missing javascript “type”. |
| HubbleSite | xhtml 1.0 trans | 20 | 4 | All encoded link or script problems. Non existing properties for css. |
| html 4.01 trans | 9 | 34 | Encoded link problems. Unsupported attribute. | |
| Gifts.com | html 4.01 trans | 66 | 9 | Unsupported attribute types. Missing “alt” attributes. |
| xhtml 1.0 strict | 9 | 18 | Elements missing parent tags. “Name” attributes being used. | |
| Manchester United | xhtml 1.0 strict | 146 | 7 | Missing “/>” at the end of some tags. Missing “alt” attributes. Some end tags missing. |
| The Science of Sex | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 26 | 0 | “alt” attribute missing. Problems with flash plugin. |
| Current TV | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 154 | 9 | Missing “/>” at the end of some tags. Problems with ambersand encoding. |
| The Office | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 93 | 2 | Unsupported attributes being used. “alt” attributes not specified. Closing tags missing. |
| YellowstonePark.com | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 34 | 1 | Certain attributes capitalized. Closing tags missing. Unsupported attributes. |
| Wikitravel | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 0 | 1 | CSS error, unrecognized value. |
| TripAdvisor | n/a - html 4.01 trans used | 127 | 9 | Unsupported attributes. “alt” attributes not specified. Reused CSS ID’s. |
| Cute Overload | xhtml 1.0 transitional | 60 | 7 | Unsupported attributes being used. “alt” attributes not specified. End tags missing. |
NOTE: I omitted some flash sites where validation didn’t really matter. Also, there may have been a couple I missed. Also, these were the results I got when I checked validation, and by no means am I saying it is what you will get as well.
Maybe next week I will follow up with a version 2.0 that explains what they could have done to fix it.
If anyone wants help with validation, feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help!
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July 6th, 2007
So many of those sites are ugly. Looks like politics has more weight than talent when it comes to getting a Webby.
July 6th, 2007
Interesting. Thanks for publishing. As a developer, I sometimes find strict adherance to standards difficult to achieve. And I unfortunately don’t make it a habit to run validation checks on everything I create. When I do run validation checks, it is often a tedious and time consuming process to catch everything. I guess the key is writing valid code in the first place. Old habits die hard!
July 7th, 2007
[…] av Ã¥rets Webby awards og w3c validering. Det er kun 1 av sitene som faktisk validerer! Les mer om saken her.. No Comments, Comment or […]
September 11th, 2007
This is an excellent point. While I generally code to the standards, for over-taxed folk like myself, it’s easy to slip and have under-par standards. I’m all for standards as a general principal, but reality presents a different story. Great post!
June 12th, 2008
Webbies, like almost all awards, are entirely self-promotional entities, interested only in validating their own importance. They gain legitimacy by leeching off other peoples ‘wow-factor’ sites and have no concern for technical standards.
July 31st, 2008
I would suggest not to provide a link to those sites, just a text URL will do. I mean, if they are not ‘up to the mark’, why shall we promote them .. just my opinion.
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