Is code validation really that important?
I was recently involved in a discussion/argument with various web developers over at Hobo SEO about validation. As it turns out, according to recent research into SEO companies with fully validating websites, there aren’t many that are getting it right.
I was quite shocked to then hear one or two users commenting on the article, had varying opinions on validation. Some basically quipped that is was a waste of time, others said it had no effect on accessibility or SEO. One commenter even said they would “rather have a nicely designed, usable website” than making sure it validates.
Well I (and others) would suggest that there is absolutely no reason you can’t have both. In fact, it’s a good idea to make sure you do validate your site the best you can.
Of course, it’s fine if you don’t. The Internet won’t explode, and nobody will hunt you down and burn you at the stake. But if you think about it, code validation is just a check to make sure you’ve done your job properly. You would expect this in any other line of business – so why not web development?
If you worked as a builder for example, and some of your bricks faced the wrong way, perhaps your house won’t fall down – but if you have a structural problem in the future, you won’t know whether it’s to do with that new extension, or if it was actually do with your poor handiwork to start with.
My point is that code validation creates a stable foundation for you to continue to build your site, and if anything, more-or-less rules out your core code if you have a problem in the future when putting in new code.
Leave your comment below. Go wild! Just curb the naughty words.
An example of a website not validating their code is probably the best known…google.
They say the bytes that are saved by not closing certain tags on their pages is important. I’ll leave you to make up you mind on that one.
You’re right – Google doesn’t validate, and they bytes they save are crucially important. On average, Google handles 91 million searches per day, and for their infrastructure to cope (and as mentioned on my next post, be as fast as possible to beat competition) they have to conserve as much as possible.
The difference is that Google have done this on purpose – they haven’t slacked off or forgotten to validate, it’s a calculated move which has a real impact on their service.
So you’re definitely right that it doesn’t validate – but it’s for a good reason. Plus, Google pretty much rule the internets, and I’m not going to argue with them!