The SelectORacle: Getting Explanations About Complicated Rules ....
Do you have a CSS style so complex that you’re not sure even you, the
author, understand it? Or did you come across an interesting Web page and
look at the source, only to discover a line of CSS code that you simply can’t
visualize, like this one:
body > h2:not(:first-of-type):not(:last-of-type);
What does that CSS code mean? What does it select in the body? Some H2
headlines, but which ones?
To find a well-explained answer, a translation of the meaning of the rule, and
also get a list of any possible errors, go to this site:
http://gallery.theopalgroup.com/selectoracle/
You’ll be glad you did. Explanations in English or Spanish are available. What
does the SelectORacle say about that H2 rule? Here’s his/her/its answer:
“Selects anyh2element that is not a first child of its type and that is not a
last child of its type, that is a child of a bodyelement.”
For an automated translation, this oracle does a pretty fine job. It can be
especially helpful in clarifying complicated relationships.
Providing Alternatives ................................................................................
For space conservation and other reasons, I’ve avoided using the alt
attribute with the imgelement in this book. In plain English, when I displayed
a graphic, I didn’t simultaneously supply a text explanation of that graphic.
The text is supposed to fill in the gap left if, for example, the user has a slow
Internet connection (or a device that has a very small screen like that of a
cell phone or PDA) and, consequently, a graphic cannot be displayed.
Another scenario: The blind often listen to audio versions of Web pages. They
appreciate hearing a text description of the graphics that they can’t see.
These are all valid reasons for using alt.
<IMG SRC=”seashore.jpg” ALT=”This is a pleasant, if clich`ed,
photo of a typical, deserted Aussie beach.”>
“So, why didn’t you use alt?” I can hear someone saying. “What’s wrong
with you?”
332 Part V: The Part of Tens
