What makes web standard an actual standard

Web standards are mentioned so often (browser wars all over again) I started to realize that most people don’t have a clue what that means. I’ve also personal opinion on those words, for me it’s not wise multiply pages documents and recommendations. For me web standard is something that works and can be reliably used online .

But how technologies get to be one? Examples time.

XHTML

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language had relatively easily phased out good old HTML as basic fundament of web. Most of pages are created using XHTML. Every single browser up to simplest ones on mobile devices has to support at least that much to be called Internet-capable.

Reasons behind such silent success? Excellent backwards compatibility and promises of bright XML future . Promises kinda vanished – to this day every single consumer browser still treats XHTML documents as tag soup instead of XML parsing.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets took years to stand at equal ground with XHTML. They are still far from properly working between different browsers. Still it’s same – support these or get out. Without CSS web is text wall and few people want that.

RSS

Really Simple Syndication (or whatever it is called depending on specific format) is struggling for years to overcome its underused status. Excellent performance and embrace of publishers still hadn’t erased “techie toy” tag. By fact of its existence RSS undermines authority of XHTML/CSS empire . It’s pretty good at this but still not there.

Flash

Adobe Flash is slow, criticized and closed format. I have no actual idea how it had secured base of 97-98% of Internet-connected PCs. Oh wait – eye candy .

Silverlight

Microsoft Silverlight says nothing to most Internet users. Sheer fact of Microsoft part will force you to hear about it more and more with each year.

SVG

Scalable Vector Graphics is highly superior vector image format destined to rule web. Problem is no one into it. Masses hadn’t ever got idea of vector imaging – bunch of pixels is easier to understand. Publishers are so scared of browser incompatibility that thought of using breakthrough tech makes them faint. SVG is standard without followers.

BitTorrent

BitTorrent file distribution protocol is by different evaluations 30-40% of global Internet traffic . And rising. It’s not free of problems however it is most solid implementation of file distribution in years. Downside? Corporate won’t even touch anything remotely associated with piracy (I am amazed they even use ftp). I think Opera is only consumer browser with out-of-the-box torrent support.

So what makes standard?

• background entry to scene;
• users’ sympathies;
• carrot for publishers;
• being invisible or very flashy – not the middle;
• checks from huge corporations.

Secure position first, fail promises later. That’s the motto web standards of modern age hold.