Each of these links may be helpful in some way for anyone working
on web development. Each one is annotated at least briefly to
indicate why you might like to go there.
General Links for the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the
Web Hypertext Applications Technology Working Group (WHATWG)
-
W3C Home
Page The place to go for the very latest information
on most web technologies and their standards.
-
W3C All
Standards and Drafts Links to all the standards and
drafts the W3C has completed or is working on.
-
WHATWG
Home Page The home page of the alternate (first
competing but now cooperating) group developing web standards,
particularly HTML5.
HTML and XHTML
-
W3C HTML5: A
vocabulary and associated APIs for HTML and XHTML A
specification defining the latest major revision of the core
language of the World Wide Web. This specification is yet to be
fully implemented, but it will eventually supersede HTML 4.01 and
XHTML 1.0, now that work on XHTML 2.0 has been terminated.
-
W3C HTML5: Edition for Web Authors A W3C
HTML5 Working Draft and a subset of the full specification aimed
more at web authors.
-
HTML: The Markup
Language (an HTML language reference) A
"non-normative" reference describing the HTML markup language and
providing details to help producers of HTML content create
documents that conform to the language. [From Wikipedia: In
standards terminology still used by some organizations,
"normative" means "considered to be a prescriptive part of the
standard". It characterizes that part of the standard which
describes what ought to be done within the application of that
standard. For example, many standards have an introduction,
preface, or summary that is considered non-normative, as well as
a main body that is considered normative. "Compliance" is defined
as "complies with the normative sections of the standard"; an
object that complies with the normative sections but not the
non-normative sections of a standard is still considered to be in
compliance.]
-
WHATWG's "Living Standard for HTML5" WHATWG's
(ongoing) version of the HTML5 standard, considered as a
constantly growing and evolving entity. This is the full version,
containing the information that both browser vendors and web
developers need to know.
-
WHATWG's HTML5 Optimized
for Web Developers An alternate form of WHATWG's
site containing less technical information of use to implementers
and geared more toward web authors. In other words, the
information that only browser vendors need to know has been
removed from the full specification.
-
Promotional Site for HTML
5 An unabashedly promotional site for HTML5 where
you can do everything from follow up on some of its technologies
to buy a T-shirt.
-
HTML5 vs. HTML
4 A web site that deals with the differences between
HTML5 and HTML 4.
-
HTML5
Content Models The new "content models" that extend the
basic block and inline models of the past.
-
W3C
HTML 4.01 Home Page The W3C home page for HTML 4.01,
the last version of HTML before XHTML.
-
W3C XHTML 1.0 Home
Page The W3C home page for XHTML 1.0, now the "last"
version of XHTML.
-
W3C
XHTML 2 Home Page The W3C home page for XHTML, which
is now "closed" (that is, no further development is planned).
-
Startup
Templates A selection of startup templates for
different types of web pages.
-
DOCTYPE
Activation Activating browser modes with DOCTYPE.
-
Absolute vs. Relative Links A brief primer
on absolute and relative (document-relative and root-relative)
links.
-
Valid
DOCTYPEs A list of valid doctypes.
-
A Detailed
HTML Overview A page with many links to additional
resources.
CSS
-
W3C CSS
Home Page The W3C home page for CSS, where you can
find both reference and tutorial material.
-
W3C
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Snapshot A reasonably
up-to-date "snapshot" of the status of CSS.
-
W3C CSS
Current Work A site where you can find out what work
is currently in progress in CSS, and even participate in the
process if you wish.
-
Another
"Learn CSS" Site "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
CSS3"
-
Quirks
Mode vs. Strict Mode Gives a short overview of the
reasons for and the differences between quirks mode and strict
mode in the interpretation of CSS.
-
W3C
Cascading Style Sheets Level 2 Revision 1 (CSS 2.1)
Specification The title says it all.
-
Eric Meyer's
CSS Reset File One possible CSS reset file for using
"as is" for your CSS Reset, or as a basis for creating your own
version of a CSS Reset.
-
normalize.css
A link to the normalize.css file, which can be used as a CSS
Reset file. This one is used by Twitter Bootstrap, HTML5
Boilerplate, and many others.
-
960 Grid
System "The 960 Grid System is an effort to
streamline web development workflow by providing commonly used
dimensions, based on a width of 960 pixels. There are two
variants: 12 and 16 columns, which can be used separately or in
tandem."
-
blueprint
"Blueprint is a CSS framework, which aims to cut down on your
development time. It gives you a solid foundation to build your
project on top of, with an easy-to-use grid, sensible typography,
useful plugins, and even a stylesheet for printing."
-
CLEANCSS A CSS
formatter and optimizer.
-
CSS
Code Optimizer and Code Formatter Another tool for
optimization and formatting.
-
CSS Zen
Garden A site that illustrates nicely what can be
done with CSS.
-
CSS Tricks A site with lots of
special-case CSS techniques.
-
CSS Minifier A site which helps you
condense your (finalized) CSS to conserve storage space and bandwidth.
Validators
-
W3C
HTML and XHTML Markup Validator Service One place to
go when you want or need to have one of your web pages
"validated" according to one of the accepted W3C standards for
HTML or XHTML markup, including HTML5.
-
W3C CSS Validator
Service The place to go for validation of your
Cascading Style Sheets, but currently only validates up to CSS
version 2.1.
-
A CSS Validator
for CSS 3 But, since CSS 3 is a developing standard,
a question will always be: How much and which parts of CSS 3 are
being validated?
-
WDG XHTML and
HTML Markup Validator Service Another place to go
when you want a web page validated (if your usual validator is
not available, let's say).
-
HTML
5 Validator Service Another validator service
especially for HTML5.
JavaScript | ECMAScript
-
European Computer
Manufacturers Association (ECMA) Among other things,
here is where you will find the ECMA standards, which include
those for ECMAScript, better known as JavaScript.
-
JavaScript
Reference Card (pdf) A quick reference card for
JavaScript.
-
DOM-on-a-Page The
DOM in one page, though a very big one.
-
jQuery A very popular
JavaScript library for achieving many web page effects in a
cross-browser fashion.
-
Modernizr
"Modernizr is an open-source JavaScript library that helps you
build the next generation of HTML5 and CSS3-powered websites."
[That's a quote from the Modernizr folks.]
-
Node.js Node.js is a
"platform" that allows JavaScript to be used on the server side
to build fast, scalable web applications.
-
JSHint JSHint is a
program that flags suspicious usage in programs written in JavaScript.
-
The Modern JavaScript Tutorial
A very useful tutorial site on the major aspects of JavaScript.
Node.js
-
tutorialspoint A Node.js tutorial.
-
tutorialspoint An ExpressJS tutorial.
PHP
-
PHP Home
Page This site contains both a comprehensive PHP
reference and a tutorial on PHP.
-
PHP Reference Card
(pdf) A quick reference card for PHP.
-
A 38-page
PHP Reference courtesy of Nick Schaferhoff.
-
PHP Tutorial (www.phptutorial.net)
MongoDB
-
mongodb.com
The MongoDB manual tutorial
-
tec.Admin.net
A MongoDB tutorial at tec.Admin.net
-
Quackit
A website with many tutorials. Scroll down to find the one on MongoDB.
-
tutorialspoint
A tutorial on MongoDB and PHP.
-
PHP Library for MongoDB
Another link to the PHP manual.
-
Data Flair MongoDB
Another tutorial site.
MySQL
-
MySQL Home
Page This site has a somewhat commercial "look and
feel", which may be an unfair or flattering observation,
depending on your point of view, but you can get lots of
information (a complete reference manual, for example) and free
downloads here.
-
MySQL Reference
Card (pdf) A quick reference card for MySQL.
-
A Database
Normalization Tutorial A tutorial on the first three
database normal forms
-
A
MySQL Tutorial
phpMyAdmin
-
phpMyAdmin
Home Page The official home page of the phpMyAdmin
project, which provides a GUI front end for administering a MySQL
database over the web.
-
Some phpMyAdmin Tutorials Tutorials focused on
various aspects of phpMyAdmin.
General Web References | Help | Tutorials
-
W3 Schools
Home Page A large collection of excellent tutorials and
reference pages on many web technologies. In many cases the
tutorials permit you to edit the code you are looking at and
experiment with "what if" scenarios.
-
WebsiteSetup.org Various
articles, tutorials, and guides on web development from fundamental to advanced.
-
tutorialspoint
Another large collection of web development and additional more general
programming and other tutorials and resources.
-
WebPlatform.org "The latest
information on how to use the technology that runs the web --
HTML, CSS, JavaScript and more."
-
MDN (the Mozilla Developer
Network) A great resource for both web develpers and
web-developers-to-be.
-
Tutorial Republic provides
another collection of web-related tutorials, examples and references.
-
Little Web Hut An excellent
resource both for tutorials and reference material.
-
learnwebcode.com Some pretty good
tutorials can be found here.
-
learnlayout.com A short but useful
site discussing some aspects of CSS layout.
-
Microsoft's "Channel
9" Look for the web tutorial videos, especially any offered
by Bob Tabor.
-
sitepoint Lots
of How To articles and other resources.
-
A
List Apart "For People Who Make Web Sites" is their
tag line. A place where you may find more than one useful article
or the answer to an obscure question.
-
maxdesign Lots of helpful
articles and some very nice slide shows.
-
HTML5
Doctor "Helping you implement HTML5 today"
-
A CSS Float
Tutorial A good tutorial on the use of CSS floats in page
design.
-
Web Design
Group A reference site and tool source for web authors.
-
HTMLSource
Another tutorial and reference site, especially for HTML.
-
O'Reilly's
XML Site Another O'Reilly site that contains, if not
all, then a lot of what you might want to know about XML.
-
Eric
Meyer's Website This is the website of Eric Meyer, a
well-know authority on various web-related things.
-
Activating Browser
Modes with DOCTYPE In order to deal both with
content written according to Web standards and with content
written according to legacy practices that were prevalent in the
late 1990s, contemporary web browsers implement various "engine
modes". This document explains what those modes are and how they
are triggered.
-
CSSMOJO You are now
directed here from the TJKDesign site noted in the previous link,
though that site still contains some material as well.
-
Dave Woods A
free-lance web designer whose site contains a number of useful
articles.
-
Van SEO
Design Another web designer whose site contains a
number of useful articles.
-
Google
Webmaster Guidelines Google guidelines for, among
other things, search-friendly websites.
-
Digital Web magazine Search Engine Optimization and
your website.
-
HTML Dog
Tutorials on HTML and CSS.
-
Cheat-Sheets.org
A repository of many useful "cheat sheets".
-
Computer Hope
Particularly good if you want some information on a computer term
or acronym.
-
Mozilla Developer
Network An open community of developers who provide,
via this site, a great deal of useful information on a wide
variety of web topics.
-
How
Browsers Work Information on what goes on behind the
scenes as your browser does your bidding.
-
WebsiteSetup How to Make a Website: A free, step-by-step guide for making a website in 30 minutes or less.
-
A Resource Guide for Web Developers A website provided by qualtrics that gives you lots of links to helpful information for web developers.
Colors, Images and Graphics
-
Free "Dummy" Image Generator A very
useful site for generating images of whatever size you'd like in
whatever background and text colors you'd like. Excellent for
when you just want an image of a particular size as you
experiment with page layout.
-
A Color Scheme Designer Tool Helps
you choose colors that should work well together on your website.
-
A Color Picker Helps you get the
right hex code for a given color.
-
Another Color Picker Helps you get
the right hex code for a given color.
-
Yet Another Color Picker Helps you
get the right hex code for a given color.
-
One More Color Picker Lets you upload
a picture, then find and match the codes for different colors in that
image.
-
Web Photo Resizer An online tool to
help you resize your images, if that's something you need to do.
-
JPEG Compressor Resize and optimize the images including GIFs, JPEG, PNG, JPG, SVG, and WEBP.
-
picresize Another image resizer.
-
resizeimage And another.
-
lunapic Online photo editor.
-
Excalidraw Remote visual
collaboration, but not free.
-
Graphic Design Trends Expert tips and creative tools.
-
Web
Browser Acid Tests A site for putting your browser
through its paces.
-
schema.org This site
provides a collection of schemas, i.e., HTML tags, that
webmasters can use to markup their pages in ways recognized by
major search providers.
-
HTML
TIDY A good place to start if you want information
on the HTML TIDY utility for "cleaning up" your web pages. You
might also want to investigate "Slidey", a utility for creating
PowerPoint-like presentations (horrors) that work through your
web browser.
-
CSS TIDY
Analogous to HTML TIDY, but for CSS.
-
HTML-Kit
Editor Home Page This is the home page of a freely
available HTML editor (at least "Build 292" is freely available)
that appears to be an excellent choice for Windows web
developers.
-
Bluefish Editor Home
Page This is the home page of a freely available
HTML editor that appears to be an excellent choice for Linux web
developers.
-
FavIcon
from Pics A free web service from www.chami.com, the
folks behind HTML-Kit, which allows you to produce a "favicon"
from an image file.
-
Modernizr
"Modernizr is an open-source JavaScript library that helps you
build the next generation of HTML5 and CSS3-powered websites."
-
regexpal A site where
you can write and test regular expressions.
-
Handbrake
A free, multiplatorm, multithreaded audio and video encoding
tool, which will convert most multimedia video file formats to
MP4 or Ogg Theora, and most audio file formats from one format to
another.
-
ZAMZAR A site that
provides online transcoding services (and even supports the
relatively new WebM format).
-
media.io Online audio
converter for uploading and converting.
-
GIMP The GNU Image
Manipulation Program site. GIMP is powerful and flexible but has
a reasonably steep learning curve.
-
Paint.NET The
Paint.NET site, for another image manipulation program, a perhaps
simpler alternative to GIMP.
-
Google's PageSpeed Insights Site
Get some "insight" into the behavior of your web pages.
Linux | Apache | Tomcat
-
Alphabetical
Listing of Linux Commands This page gives an
alphabetical listing of 515 Linux commands, with command options
and usage examples.
-
Linux
Command Cheat-Sheet A summary of useful Linux commands
in various categories.
-
Short List of
Commands for the bash Shell This page gives an
useful, though incomplete, listing of Linux commands
(specifically, bash shell commands), though without options and
without examples.
-
Apache
Home Page This is the home page of the most widely
used web server on the internet. It's very good, and it's very
inexpensive (as in free!).
-
Tomcat Home
Page This is the home page of the Tomcat "servlet
container" that is used in the official Reference Implementation
for the "Java Servlet" and "JavaServer Pages" technologies.
Browser Extensions
-
Web Developer for Firefox
The Web Developer add-on for Firefox, something every web
developer should have.
-
Validate HTML
A "Validate HTML" add-on for Firefox by Nathan Hernden.
General Web Data | Web Stats
-
Web Browser Comparisons on Wikipedia This page
compares various browsers on various platforms from several
different points of view, including web technology and protocol
support.
-
W3Counter
Keeps track of global web stats.
-
Netcraft News A
site where you can find up-to-date news and stats on various
aspects of web usage (the "battle" between Apache and IIS, for
example).
-
Future of the Web HTML5, XHTML 2 and the
future of the web.
Miscellaneous
-
Safari Books
Online Start a free subscription to many of the
(excellent) publications offered by O'Reilly Media.
-
A
Book Apart Brief books for people who make websites.
-
TinyURL Allows you to
convert a long URL into a short one.
-
Free
Logo Designs A good place to start if you're looking
for a logo.
-
Free
Formatter A site that offers facilities for formatting
various kinds of documents, plus other useful references.
Frameworks
-
Bootstrap A
popular framework for establishing a website.
-
Backbone Another
framework for helping you to set up a website.
-
HTML5
Boilerplate Still another "front-end template"
(framework) for helping you to set up a website.
-
Pure (CSS) A set of
small, responsive CSS modules that you can use in every web
project.
-
960 Grid
System "The 960 Grid System is an effort to
streamline web development workflow by providing commonly used
dimensions, based on a width of 960 pixels." is quote from the
site.
Perl | CGI
-
Perl Home
Page The home page of the Perl programming language.
-
CPAN The Comprehensive
Perl Archive Network, the gateway to all things Perl. The
canonical location for Perl code and modules.
-
The CGI Resource Index for Perl This link takes you
to a collection of Perl scripts for CGI programming, as well as a
number of other resources.
-
A Perl cheat sheet A useful collection of Perl functions, operators and other features.