Definition

WHATWG (Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group)

Part of the Software development glossary:

The Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG) is a community of computer professionals and general users with an interest in improving HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). 

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WHATWG started as a venture in 2004 between Apple, Mozilla, and Opera. The originators of the WHATWG were frustrated by sluggish evolution of Web standards, along with a decision by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) to abandon HTML in favor of XML (Extensible Markup Language).

Since its inception, the WHATWG has involved itself mainly with advancement of HTML including specific features such as Web Workers, Web Storage, Web Sockets, and Server-Sent Events. In addition, the WHATWG sometimes works on other specifications such as APIs (application program interfaces). The WHATWG specifications are continuously updated as they receive feedback from Web site designers, vendors, programmers, engineers, and end users. New features evolve to keep the specifications slightly ahead of real-world implementations. The group is managed by an editor who is selected by, and who can be overridden or even fired by, a steering committee.

This was last updated in August 2012
Contributor(s): Stan Gibilisco
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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