Implementing Microformats Effectively

Microformats are one of the many features that could be extracted from unobtrusive JavaScript. Through careful coding, microformats could easily be an advantage for a website.

Before going further, let’s properly take a look what a microformat is. Basically, microformats are small group of functions that works independently of the JavaScript or the Ajax based applications. Their interaction is not directly with the server but on outside sources as they could load independent data from other websites. Microformats will not even cause a change to the general architecture of the website since it can be applied on top of HTML functions in JavaScript online applications.

Although microformats could be implemented at will, there are certain considerations that should be remembered before they are applied in a website.

The Need for Microformat

The first question that any developer should answer when they want to use microformats is to know if there is any useful function for the microformat. A microformat could be implemented for many ways but they should be used as a solution to a problem or to fill a need. This is very important since microformats uses outside sources to provide information or do what they have to do. If no concerns have to be answered by a microformat, then this idea will be very dangerous for website’s security.

Simplicity is the Key

Microformats should stay what they really are – small. A microformat could simply be a JavaScript based feeder properly interacting with CSS. If they are kept that way, the purpose of using microformat is achieved. The trouble with microformats is that it could developed so easily that it tempts most developers to device complicated schemes for microformats. Instead of doing well, the microformat could easily drag the application since it will require more bandwidth than the main application.

Another consideration is the availability of CSS in a browser. Microformats need CSS so that they could load information from another source. If the browser can’t read CSS, the microformat can’t be read.

Availability of XHTML

XHTML is a more powerful alternative to microformats. Although XHTML doesn’t provide the expected aesthetic beauty compared to microformats, they don’t require a lot of bandwidth. XHTML may not be available in the JavaScript application due to incompatibility. There are even XHTML that could be implemented in the browser but some elements can’t just be recognized. If they are never recognized, then microformats should be considered. Microformats should only be considered when the application can’t accept one element of XHTML. Microformats should only be treated as an alternative and never a goal.

Simple Yet Powerful

The best part in implementing microformats is to actually see them work. After a lot of considerations, microformat will still be facing a lot of challenges especially on its sources. Security should be enhanced and interactivity should also be considered. Microformats should be considered as a risky addition that is why all options should be exhausted before they could be properly implemented. But when microformats are properly launched, it would provide a better looking JavaScript or Ajax based application.