HTML5 Step by Step 1st Edition

I purchased this book as a resource to teach students about the new HTML5 semantic tags.For the record, I'm a 15-year web design and development veteran with high levels of experience in HTML5/CSS3/PHP/Perl/WordPress, etc. I've started teaching over the last 4 years and many corporations are now upgrading to IE8 and IE9, which means that HTML5 tags are finally at their fingertips. I was hoping Microsoft would be able to provide a solid book from that standpoint, but this book definitely fails at that.The majority of what you learn is, at best, HTML4 (and not even standards-based XHTML), with some HTML5 sprinkled in at random.As I got further into the book, quite a few problems appeared:- consistant use and advocation for the use of the I and B tags -- when they're said to be a LAST RESORT in the HTML5 specification as EM and STRONG have better semantic meaning- examples to build and advocating for TABLE BASED LAYOUTS (a huge no-no)- using images for links in a main navigation - no mention of Search Engine Optimization or practices therein - or the consequences of using image-based menus- next to no mention of CSS2 or CSS3 tags that save time (for example, coloring every-other row in a table-based layout - you can use nth-child(2n) -- this is never mentioned)- there's no explanation of where to use section vs article vs aside (and it's certainly not shown in the example besides a "do this and don't ask why"-type example)- no mention of TH, THEAD, TBODY, TFOOT, or CAPTION tags, summary attribute, border-collapse style, or COLGROUPs in the Tables chapter...- no required alt tags for many images- using the a-tag anchors as opposed to showing ID-based anchor capabilities- advocating for in-line (tag) styling and attribute-based modification vs the much cleaner and standardized CSS-based styling/modifications- specifying fonts makes no mention of the @font-face command or possibilities therein or Google's webfont capabilities (ok as this one may not have existed in February 2011 - but @font-face DID and worked even in IE6)And their advice as to what "many professional web developers" do - ("Many professional Web site designers do not create their own buttons, nor do they acquire them from others; instead they use button-creation programs to generate them" - location 4395, and several other bits - like "Many web developers still use tables for layout") - is just plain wrong.Skip this book.Pick up a different guide (I highly recommend the Head First series, but if you're not into JavaScript programming - the  Head First HTML5 Programming: Building Web Apps with JavaScript  may be too advanced for you -- and certainly does not do a good job covering the new HTML5 semantic markup, but  Head First HTML and CSS  - second edition with HTML5 tags - is great for this purpose and is lighter on the JavaScript!)

The authors of the 1- & 2-star reviews to date have valid points: It's not really an HTML5 book, but a basic HTML tutorial that includes HTML5 features. The examples (purportedly) don't pass validation tests, and a lot of the treatment is "just plain wrong" (doesn't use professional best practices.)If I had paid full price for this book, I also might have been disappointed. But I got a new copy for only $4 including shipping, so I'm satisfied, even though I found the book to be quite light on advanced topics. It serves my purpose: to give an overview of how the new HTML5 constructs fit into the HTML schema.Good Points:- An intelligent "step-by-step" tutorial that introduces basic concepts in a clear and intelligible fashion, though it is light on advanced concepts essential in a book for professional developers.- Essentially a generic HTML book that uses the terms "Internet Explorer" and "Notepad" in place of "browser" and "text editor".- Includes a brief exposition of both Javascript and the popular companion JQuery library.- Pleasing use of color: Has sky-blue highlighting and marginal tabs throughout.Bad Points:- See the 1- & 2-star reviews.Bottom Line: This book is most appropriate for computer non-professionals who want to learn HTML fundamentals and be able to craft basic web pages in HTML.

This is an excellent book that's designed for absolute beginners who do not have any previous experience creating a website. Here's what's great about it:- The author makes learning easy, especially for first-time beginners.- Teaches how to build websites using the new HTML 5 standard.- Provides hands-on practice, which helps you to learn the presented materials.- Teaches some basic CSS too, which comes in handy for making the site look professional, etc.- Learn how to add images, video, audio, and other cool features to web pages.Some aspects could be improved:- The Hands-on exercises are excellent, but there are some occasional coding mistakes in them that really should be corrected.(It's nothing that will prevent you from learning, but at the same time, it can be a bit annoying to see this basic coding mistakes in the exercises. Yet, it was kind of fun to fix them and it did show me clearly that I was learning HTML 5 quite well...)Overall, this is a great book for absolute beginners and highly recommended. If you're wanting a book that makes learning HTML 5 quick and simple, you've found it... :-)

I received this book via the publisher for review to consider using for the Dreamweaver and HTML course that I teach. After reviewing this text, I then, purchased the Kindle version because I wanted to see how my students would be able to use it on their Kindle. I was delighted. The text held together and the images/figures, even though, they were in grayscale were easy to decipher.First, I was impressed with how straight forward and well written the text was. It was easy to understand and thorough in its description of the various tags/elements. The tutorials and sample files were basically error free and those errors that I ran across ... I found a errata site posted online.I don't have to order my text until October but as of now, I am leaning towards making this a required text and build my Dreamweaver assignments around it. Dreamweaver is transitioning into a terrific editor and I think if the student doesn't know HTML and CSS they are severely disadvantaged.

I have read alot of books on HTML5 in the last 12 months but for me this is the best of them all, simple to understand and follow and the best thing of all is you actually design something. Alot of books are just reference books and for some people that might be good but if your new to html5 this book is excellent i would highly recommend it.

Good book would like to recommend to any prospective buyer wanting to learn html 5. and web designing in general.

good descriptive book and easy to follow instruction.