There are quite a few validating tools being used by web designers and developers. Some tools need to be downloaded and installed in your PC in order to be used while others can be used on site. Still others require you to purchase the software in order to be of use.
PWAG recommends sites that offer popular, standards tested and FREE online validating tools. However, their functions and scopes differ and depend on what aspect to validate.
Here is the list:
- http://validator.w3.org
– This W3C Markup Validation Service is a free service that checks Web documents in formats like HTML and XHTML for conformance to W3C Recommendations and other standards.PWAG suggests using this as your first online validating tool because it checks the tidiness of your HTML markup like missing start or ending tags. It can also check your document from your computer before you can upload it to your web server.
- http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/
– W3C CSS Validation Service; a free service that checks Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in (X)HTML documents or standalone for conformance to W3C recommendations.If you use CSS in your web site, then PWAG recommends this is handy online validating tool for you. It validates your CSS file as well as provide warnings if your style sheet is incomplete.
- http://www.worldenable.net/wevalidator.htm
– The WorldEnable Validator is a technical implementation of the Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations. The recommendations are the first set of threshold level functional specifications that may be used as a basis for accessibility standards in developing nations and countries in economic transition.As an advocate of the Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations, PWAG suggests using this as your preferred web accessibility tool. It completely checks your ALT text requirements. It also confirms if you have an accessibility instruction within your site. It even counts the time it takes to load your web site.
- http://www.cynthiasays.com/
– The HiSoftware Cynthia Says is a web content accessibility validation solution. It is designed by Web Accessibility Expert Ms. Cynthia Waddell. It is used to identify errors in your content related to Section 508 standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or the WCAG guidelines. This is the US equivalent of the WorldEnable validator.
This is a very neat tool for checking if you have ALT texts in your images; number of characters used and even objects elements. However, it only checks one page at a time.
- http://www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/
– This Web Design Group (WDG) HTML Validator is developed by Mr. Liam Quinn. WDG was founded to promote the creation of non-browser specific, non-resolution specific, creative and informative sites that is accessible to all users worldwide.If you want a second opinion on your HTML validation, then use this site. It can even validate up to 100 pages.
- http://wave.webaim.org
– WAVE which stands for Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool is a free web accessibility evaluation tool provided by WebAIM. It is used to aid humans in the web accessibility evaluation process. Rather than providing a complex technical report, WAVE shows the original web page with embedded icons and indicators that reveal the accessibility of that page.
- http://achecker.ca/checker/index.php
– A-checker or Web Accessibility Checker is a very comprehensive online web accessibility tool. AChecker can be used to self-evaluate the accessibility of your Web pages to ensure they meet the requirements of various international accessibility standards. You can select the validation checkpoint against the nine internationally recognized guidelines including the Web Content Accessibility Guideline Version 2.0 (WCAG 2.0). You can even register to their site in order to download the evaluation result.
For the complete list of online validating tools, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/accessibleweb/links/Accessible_Web_Site__001162966794/
