Web Standards is a huge, massively important part of designing and building websites. They are a set of rules and guidelines, covering 90 topics, set out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to set out consistency in the development of websites, and the code behind them.

Making websites Standards complaint ensures that they are accessible, and look the same on any web browser and any device. Some question why they should bother with Web Standards, but without it, the free-for-all would create a non-standardised Web. Following Standards ensures websites are more stable across devices.

Standards compliant websites are easier to maintain, and reduce development time, as well as being compatible with older browsers. Many developers support the current version of a browser, and two versions behind.

Web Standards make the Web more usable, professional, and reliable. Many Standards define Usability and Accessibility best practices, which ensure suitable steps are taken to make websites available to all users.

Many Web Standards are set at a Governmental level, including Codes of Practice for Usability and Accessibility, to comply with the UK Disability Discriminations Act 1995.

All websites I build are Standards compliant by following best practices, making the Web a better place which is usable, and reliable.