Page 187 - DCAP512_WAP_AND_WML

Kumar Vishal, Lovely Professional University
Unit 13: Writing for HTML and WML

Unit 13: Writing for HTML and WML Notes

CONTENTS

Objectives
Introduction
13.1 Why two Languages?
13.2 Difference between HTML and WML
13.3 How to Write for both Languages

13.4 Database Driven Application
13.5 Other Languages
13.6 Summary

13.7 Keywords
13.8 Review Questions
13.9 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

 Scan HTML and WML
 Describe how to write for both languages
 Demonstrate database driven application

 Recognize other markup languages
Introduction

WML is the wireless equivalent of HTML for the Web. WML is based on XML and derived from
xHTML (the XML version of HTML). There are many differences between WML and HTML.
Example, WML has a different mechanism for linking between its pages called “cards” as
compared to linking between HTML pages.
WML browsers are stricter than HTML browsers by not being tolerant of errors. WML browsers
enforce the WML requirement of matching closing “tags”, an XML characteristic.

13.1 Why two Languages?

The single most popular component of WAP is undoubtedly Wireless Markup Language (WML).
WML allows developers to specify how content will be presented to a WAP browser. WML can
be compared to HTML in terms of its syntax and functionality, but many differences between the
two exist.
In general, HTML (especially in combination with JavaScript) requires more memory and
processing power to support a browser than is desirable for a wireless device like a cell phone
or PDA. WML strives to be a more viable alternative by stripping out the unneeded features of
HTML and enforcing conventions that make pages easier to parse.

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