HTML DOCTYPE Tag

The <!DOCTYPE> tag tells the browser what to expect. If it is a Transitional doctype it will tell the browser to use a non-standards mode. If it is a Strict doctype the browser will switch to standards mode. This tag should be placed first on the page, before the <html> tag also if you are using XHTML, this tag does not need to be closed.

Where/how To Use The <!DOCTYPE> Tag

Use in head or body section? Use before the <html> tag
Inline or Block level tag? No level
HTML Tag Syntax? <Tag>
XHTML Tag Syntax? <Tag>

Example - HTML 4.01

HTML 4.01 Strict

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

HTML 4.01 Transitional

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

HTML 4.01 Frameset

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Frameset//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/frameset.dtd">

XHTML 1.0

XHTML 1.0 Strict

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">

XHTML 1.0 Transitional

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

XHTML 1.0 Frameset

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Frameset//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-frameset.dtd">

Notes

  • Use the right doctype that is most suitable for your site.

  • If no doctype is present the browser will process the page as Transitional.

  • 'doctype' is 'document type'.

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