[uf-discuss] SPAN, DIV and Rich Examples

Fri Dec 22 08:32:33 PST 2006

’afternoon list,
A little while back I had a discussion with some people (Frances 
Berriman for one) about including a second set of ‘examples’ with the 
microformat specs. Dubbed ‘rich examples’ they would exist on a 
separate page to existing examples and showcase implementations of 
the microformat using varied, adventurous and ‘real world’ HTML mark-up.
At the moment, there is a common misconception that microformat 
classes must be applied to DIVs and SPANs. Some developers are 
resistant to adding these as additional elements to their mark-up.
Of course, the µf specs use SPAN and DIV to remain as ambiguous as 
possible; so as not to seemingly require certain semantic elements 
where any is applicable. It aids legibility and avoid readers 
thinking ‘but that example used a DFN and this one uses a P? What?’. 
Apart from microformats where a specific element _is_ required, of 
course (date-times and ABBR, XOXO, and so on).
So I'd like to propose two things. First, we make a new page for each 
implementable microformat: *-rich-examples. On these pages we create 
and document sets of examples that show microformats integrated into 
all kinds of different HTML structures: Lists, images, paragraphs, 
sidebars, footers and so on.
I think it's important to have them on a separate page as it will 
allow people writing their own examples in the wild to include a 
small link at the base of their piece akin to ‘You can use all kinds 
of mark-up with microformats, see the hCard Rich Examples page for 
all sorts of flexible examples’.
Second, to ensure the mis-interpretation regarding SPAN and DIV is 
thoroughly stubbed out I'd like to have a STRONGly emphasised 
paragraph added to the header of each spec. Effectively a disclaimer 
reading:
 ‘As you read the microformat specifications and examples,
 you'll find they all use SPAN and DIV elements. This is for
 clarity and to help keep the focus on the class names being
 used. However, you should use the most semantic mark-up
 appropriate. To see how flexible microformats can be, see
 the Rich Examples page.’
Better wording of that paragraph would be appreciated!
Is there support for this idea? I'd like to see some consensus before 
making Wiki edits to major spec pages. Plus, the creation of rich- 
examples pages will need collaboration because I don't have enough 
hours to create many by myself.
Regards,
Ben