CDATA Sections

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kennedyrt
Rank II - Novice
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:57 pm
Location: Kent, Washington

CDATA Sections

Post by kennedyrt »

When the following code is validated under Version 11.0042:

Code: Select all

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var theForm = document.forms['form1'];
if (!theForm) {
    theForm = document.form1;
}
function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) {
    if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() !== false)) {
        theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget;
        theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument;
        theForm.submit();
    }
}
//]]>
</script>
The following warning is issued:
This document contains 1 CDATA section. Using CDATA sections is not recommended due to poor browser support (even some newer browsers fail to properly support it) and due to other complications. AI Internet Solutions recommends avoiding CDATA sections if possible or commenting them out (for example, using "//<![CDATA[" and "//]]>" in a "script" element).
The code example above already implements the solution suggested by the warning of commenting out the CDATA section using "//<![CDATA[" and "//]]>" in a "script" element. The warning gives the programmer no remedial action that has not already been taken. The warning message in this example could be considered a false positive.
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Albert Wiersch
Site Admin
Posts: 3785
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:23 am
Location: Near Dallas, TX

Re: CDATA Sections

Post by Albert Wiersch »

Thanks for the suggestion. Right now CSE HTML Validator does not detect whether CDATA start and end "markers" have been commented out, but I will look into improving this in a future update. For example, not generating a warning if all the CDATA markers have been commented out.
Albert Wiersch, CSS HTML Validator Developer • Download CSS HTML Validator FREE Trial
User avatar
Albert Wiersch
Site Admin
Posts: 3785
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:23 am
Location: Near Dallas, TX

Re: CDATA Sections

Post by Albert Wiersch »

The upcoming FREE PUBLIC BETA will now treat CDATA markers that have been commented out differently than if they haven't. For example, the CDATA markers can be commented out in a script to avoid the standard warning about using CDATA in HTML.
Albert Wiersch, CSS HTML Validator Developer • Download CSS HTML Validator FREE Trial