W3C

When I use the World Wide Web (W3), I marvel at how it works seamlessly to access websites around the world—even those in different languages—to produce the information I’m looking for. This ease of access is greatly due to work done by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

http://www.w3.org/Consortium/

The W3C is an international group of organizations that work to maintain consistent international standards for technology developed for the World Wide Web. Its purpose, as stated on the website, is

to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.

Since the time the Web was first created, different operating technologies for it were developed by different groups, technologies that didn’t necessarily work together. Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the W3 and of the original technology specifications that support it [URL (Uniform Resource Locator), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), HTML (HyperText Markup Language], realized that the basic Web technologies springing up should all be made compatible to maximize use of the Web. He founded the W3C in 1989 to pursue this goal. The W3C refers to this goal as “Web interoperability.”

Today, the W3C develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) and more. It develops software, provides outreach support, educates about the W3, and serves as a forum for discussion about the Web.

Since 1989, the W3C has grown to include over 400 members worldwide—organizations representing diverse fields—and a full-time staff. Any organization may join W3C. Research facilities in the U.S.A., Japan, and France manage W3C activities while world offices around the globe promote W3C technologies in local languages, broaden W3C’s geographical base, and encourage international participation. W3C also works with other organizations that develop Web standards.

And if you want to see examples of websites that conform to W3C standards, go to

http://w3csites.com/

This website was not created by the W3C but by those promoting websites designed according to W3C standards. The top of the home page states 10,842 sites, 6,165 designers, 110 countries, 1 goal. That’s a lot of browsing.