CSS Don't

Here are some technologies you should try to avoid when using CSS.

Internet Explorer Behaviors

What is it? Internet Explorer 5 introduced behaviors. Behaviors are a way to add behaviors to HTML elements with the use of CSS styles.

Why avoid it? The behavior attribute is only supported by Internet Explorer.

What to use instead? Use JavaScript and the HTML DOM instead.

Example 1 - Mouseover Highlight

The following HTML file has a <style> element that defines a behavior for the <h1> element:

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
h1 { behavior:url(behave.htc); }
</style>
</head>

<body>
<h1>Mouse over me!!!</h1>
</body>
</html>

The XML document "behave.htc" is shown below:

Example (IE 5+ Only)

The behavior file contains a JavaScript and event handlers for the elements.

<attach for="element" event="onmouseover" handler="hig_lite" />
<attach for="element" event="onmouseout" handler="low_lite" />

<script type="text/javascript">
function hig_lite()
{
element.style.color='red';
}

function low_lite()
{
element.style.color='blue';
}
</script>

Try it yourself »

Example 2 - Typewriter Simulation

The following HTML file has a <style> element that defines a behavior for elements with an id of "typing":

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
#typing
{
behavior:url(behave_typing.htc);
font-family:"courier new";
}
</style>
</head>

<body>
<span id="typing" speed="100">IE5 introduced DHTML behaviors.
Behaviors are a way to add DHTML functionality to HTML elements
with the ease of CSS.<br /><br />How do behaviors work?<br />
By using XML we can link behaviors to any element in a web page
and manipulate that element.</p>
</span>
</body>
</html>

The XML document "typing.htc" is shown below:

Example (IE 5+ Only)

<attach for="window" event="onload" handler="beginTyping" />
<method name="type" />

<script type="text/javascript">
var i,text1,text2,textLength,t;

function beginTyping()
{
i=0;
text1=element.innerText;
textLength=text1.length;
element.innerText="";
text2="";
t=window.setInterval(element.id+".type()",speed);
}

function type()
{
text2=text2+text1.substring(i,i+1);
element.innerText=text2;
i=i+1;
if (i==textLength)
  {
  clearInterval(t);
  }
}
</script>

Try it yourself »

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