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Why is my script failing w3c validation?

Answer 1

+2 A:

You probably have your <script> element in your <head>, so essentially you're trying to create an <img> in the head of your document, which doesn't work. You need to put the script in the <body>.

However, I'd recommend you add the element via the DOM instead, because you'll be less likely to run into these kinds of problems.

musicfreak 2009-06-04 22:04:41

Answer 2

+3 A:

Simple: don't try to validate your JavaScript as HTML.

You can do this in a number of ways... But the best by far is to move it out into a separate JS file, and then either call it from a short script

<body>
...
<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">WriteImage();</script>
...
</body>

...or better yet, ditch document.write() entirely and manipulate the DOM after it has loaded.

See also: Unobtrusive JavaScript

Shog9 2009-06-04 22:06:08

the separated js file worked great for me! since the <script> wasn´t on the <head>thank you!

Andy 2009-06-04 22:22:43

Answer 3

+1 A:

It's part of the HTML4 standard. You must escape "</" sequences found inside SCRIPT tags.

<SCRIPT type="text/javascript">
  document.write ("<EM>This will work<\/EM>")
</SCRIPT>

Another solution, and probably better, is to move the JS code in external files.

Reference

Ionuț G. Stan 2009-06-04 22:11:44

That's not the problem, as there's no "</" sequence in his script tag. It's still true, though.

Miles 2009-06-04 22:13:37

Miles, you're right. It slipped my eyes that he's using an IMG tag.

Ionuț G. Stan 2009-06-04 22:22:14

Answer 4

+3 A:

Another way to silence the validator...

Put it like this:

<script type="text/javascript">
/* <![CDATA[ */
your_javascript_here("<" + ... ;
/* ]]> */
</script>

The CDATA part should be enough for the validator, the /* style comments */ are for older browsers which do not recognize the CDATA tag (it would otherwise break the javascript).

ChristopheD 2009-06-04 22:14:09

Perhaps I'm confused, Shouldn't it be: //<![CDATA[//]]>

Sean 2009-06-04 22:16:13

CDATA sections only work when the document is parsed as XML (sent using application/xhtml+xml)

Miles 2009-06-04 22:17:39

These are multiline comments, as in C.

ChristopheD 2009-06-04 22:19:24

Miles is right, that CDATA crap means nothing for the browser. And by the way, in real XHTML there's no document.write.

Ionuț G. Stan 2009-06-04 22:21:09

I agree it means nothing to the browser, that's why i wrote 'another way to silence (read:trick) the validator...' :)

ChristopheD 2009-06-04 22:23:57

Answer 5

+2 A:

How aboout

<script>
<!--
var i = null;
if ((i/0) == 12)
  alert("whooo! pack your things, as it's starting to rain cats and dogs!");
--><script>

See that the content of the "script" is inside "html comments"?

elcuco 2009-06-04 22:14:48

Answer 6

A:

document.write("<" + "img … /" + ">");

Or:

document.write("\x3Cimg … /\x3E");

Gumbo 2009-06-04 22:17:24

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Why is my script failing w3c validation?

See also: Unobtrusive JavaScript

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