9.2 Use style sheets to control layout and presentation of page and elements
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
The Standard
9.2 Use style sheets to control the layout and presentation of the web page and elements.
Guide to this standard
Use HTML structural elements, such as H1 to H6, OL, and UL, to denote document structure rather than custom styles. People who using non-visual browsers or browsers that ignore style sheets are therefore not disadvantaged.
You may use selectors, properties and values that are defined in CSS2, but only where you are sure they will 'degrade gracefully' (as defined in the Glossary of Key Concepts) in browsers that do not correctly interpret CSS2, or do so poorly.
This standard covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 3.3 for NZ government agencies.
Related Standard
9.1 - Organise documents so they may be read and still function without style sheets.
Rationale for this Standard
As stated by the Irish National Disability Authority, "Using style sheets separates structure and presentation which brings several benefits, including improved accessibility, manageability, and portability".
This complements the use of HTML 4.01, whereby the W3C reinstated HTML as primarily a structural document mark-up language and, alongside this, encourages the use of style sheets for presentation.
