HTML Checking for Large Sites

The type attribute on <a> elements, when present, gives a hint on the MIME type of the linked resource, for example:

<a href="application/pdf" src="book.pdf">Read our book</a>
<a href="image/jpeg" src="photo.jpeg">See a photo</a>

That is, we’re talking about the type of the linked resource, not the type of the <a> element, as it’s sometimes misunderstood. The following example is invalid because button is not a valid MIME type.

<a href="/order.php" type="button">Submit</a>

The href attribute of an <a> element contains an invalid character, that should be properly encoded as a URI percent-encoded character.

<a> tags can be used to link to an email address using the mailto protocol in the href attribute. Ensure that there is no space in the email address.

<a href="mailto: liza@example.com">This is wrong as it contains an space</a>

<a href="mailto:liza@example.com">This is OK</a>

The value used to define the type of a link is not valid. You’re probably using a URL instead of a valid type.

Example of a valid type:

<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="favicon.png">

The <script> tag allows authors to include dynamic scripts and data blocks in their documents. When the src is present, this tag accepts a type attribute which must be either:

• an empty string
• text/javascript (that’s the default, so it can be omitted)
• module

Examples:

<!-- This is valid, without a type it defaults to JavaScript -->
<script src="app.js"></script>

<!-- This is valid, but will warn that it can be omitted -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="app.js"></script>

<!-- An empty attribute is valid, but will warn that it can be omitted -->
<script type="" src="app.js"></script>

<!-- The module keyword is also valid as a type -->
<script type="module" src="app.js"></script>

<!-- Any other type is invalid -->
<script type="wrong" src="app.js"></script>
<script type="text/html" src="app.js"></script>
<script type="image/jpeg" src="app.js"></script>

A button element, or an element with the role=button attribute, is not allowed to be nested inside an <a> element.

An <a> element cannot contain a descendant element with the attribute tabindex.

The <textarea> element does not have a type attribute.

The HTML <textarea> element represents a multi-line plain-text editing control, and is useful when you want to allow users to enter a sizeable amount of free-form text, for example a comment on a review or feedback form.

The value contact is not a valid option for the autocomplete attribute on an <input> element.

All HTML elements may have the hidden boolean attribute set. When specified on an element, it indicates that the element is not yet, or is no longer, relevant, so browsers won’t render it.

Boolean attributes don’t accept values, its presence represents the true value and its absence represents the false value.

<!-- This is invalid because the hidden attribute should not have a value set -->
<div hidden="false"></div>

<!-- The correct way to hide a div is like this -->
<div hidden>This will be hidden</div>

<!-- And to show the element, we just don't hide it -->
<div>This won't be hidden</div>