Hot on the heels of CSS Mastery (which I also highly recommend) comes HTML Mastery. With several advanced options already available in the CSS and Javascript categories, this informative book is a much needed look/discussion at modern issues surrounding the professional use of HTML. You might being thinking, why do I need an entire book discussing HTML, HTML is simple. If this is sincerely what you believe, then this book is for you. (As a side note this book would also be perfect for any backend developers who are still crafting tag soup. I personally know of a few developers who I wish I could just download this entire book to their memory, Matrix style.)

The book starts off with a much needed look at the terminology (tags, elements, attributes, inline, block, etc) that describes the pieces and parts of HTML. The author’s choice to include (X)HTML terminology early on is a valuable look at the words that describe the language. This terminology chapter aids the reader’s understanding of the author’s words throughout the rest of the book. I believe it’s also what makes it worth purchasing. (I have waited a long time for a book that would teach, and discuss, HTML in both terminology and definition.)

With a base of (X)HTML terminology established, the author moves through the rest of the book hitting all the appropriate areas of discussion for the HTML professional (html or xhtml, semantics, professional tag practices, forms, and tables). While this book cannot be compared to, or replace, Jeffery Zeldman’s Classic book Designing With Web Standards, the author can certainly be credited with expanding the information, and thus continuing the education of web professionals. I highly recommend this book without a single complaint.