HTML5 logo FAQ updated to add clarification

When the W3C unveiled the HTML5 logo earlier this week some people (including myself—see HTML5 now includes CSS3, SVG and WOFF?) felt that the message this sent made it more likely for people to confuse different web technologies.

One important reason for this feeling of added confusion was the wording in the logo’s FAQ, which stated that

The logo is a general-purpose visual identity for a broad set of open web technologies, including HTML5, CSS, SVG, WOFF, and others.

Today Ian Jacobs posted The HTML5 Logo Conversation on the W3C Blog, explaining that the main logo was intended to represent HTML5 and letting us know that the logo FAQ has now been updated. Instead of the above, the FAQ now says this:

What does the logo represent?

This logo represents HTML5, the cornerstone for modern Web applications.

What do the smaller icons represent?

The smaller technology class icons represent aspects of modern Web applications and Web sites — style, semantics, graphics, and so forth.

Are all those technology features defined in the HTML5 specification?

No, not all of them.

Is W3C saying that CSS3 is part of the HTML5 specification?

No. However, many HTML5 Web sites and applications do take advantage of CSS3 for styling and presentation.

That clears things up a bit. If it’s enough, I’m not sure. The “badge builder” is still very prominent and risks making people think all those other technologies are actual parts of HTML5. And everybody is not going to read the FAQ.

Still, good to see an update in response to the “community”.

Posted on January 21, 2011 in HTML 5, Web Standards