The Return of the Least Weasel

That's what this one does. The second edition of Jennifer Niederst's comprehensive reference on web design now takes account of HTML 4.01; the stuff on browsers takes account of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and Netscape 6.

And what else is there to say? Just like the first edition (but with a handful of additional topics and updates to the existing ones), this volume provides a thorough "desktop quick reference" on the entire spectrum of web design -- a general introduction to and overview of the Web itself; authoring using HTML, cascading style sheets, and server side includes; graphics (GIF, JPEG, and PNG formats, colors, and animation); multimedia (audio, video, Flash, Shockwave, and introductory Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language); and advanced topics like JavaScript, DHTML, XML, XHTML, WAP, and WML. The appendices still provide easily-thumbable tables of HTML elements, attributes, tags nobody officially likes anymore, proprietary (i.e., browser-specific) tags, a chart showing which browsers support which CSS features, and all the special characters you can use in HTML (you know, &#these; &#things;).

And you probably also already know who Jen Niederst is; if not, go read my review of her book _Learning Web Design_, which you should buy first anyway if you're new to the subject. Anyway, she's a terrific writer with intimate knowledge of all the little details you need to know in order to do web design effectively; guides just don't come any better.

You know all of this already if you have the first edition. If not, then all you need to know is that this is an updated version of -- no contest -- the best available single-volume reference on web design, written by -- no contest -- the person best qualified to write it. It's complete; it's accessible; it's well-designed; it's O'Reilly.

Oh -- and the "least weasel" is the species of weasel pictured on the cover.

The most useful web development reference available

     (Review of 1st Ed.)
Web Design in a Nutshell is well organized, the index is excellent, the writing clear, and there are plentiful examples of the various concepts discussed. It contains charts covering almost every set of function/browser compatibility, as well as reference tables for everything from colors (including an excellent discussion on the use of websafe colors) to ASCII elements.

It covers the basic elements of web design, ranging from basic design principles to browsers and types of displays; basic html elements to image formats; and Cascading Style Sheets to JavaScript and basic server background.

In four years of building web sites, this is the best overall reference I've found. It summarizes the basics well enough to be a good overview for the beginner; covers a wide array of web elements to help the intermediate user expand their knowledge; and is an excellent quick reference for the experienced.

If I could have only one web development book on my desk, this would be it.

(Comments on 2nd Ed.)
Still the best single-volume reference for developers.

Niederst has added sections on DHTML, XML, XHTML, WAP/WML, updated information on browser compatibility, added to the information on graphics, audio/video, Flash, etc. There is also more information on accessibility, internationalization, and servers. The Design Principles section has been expanded, while other sections, especially under "html", have been broken out into smaller segments with their own side tabs. The character entity chart has been moved to the back as Appendix F, and the CSS compatibility chart, html elements, depreciations, and proprietary codes appendices have been enlarged.

As with the 1st Ed., the index is excellent. The new organization is logical, but if you're used to the 1st Ed. layout the changes may take a little getting used to, as many things aren't where you left them. For example, the color code chart has been moved from near the beginning to the middle of the book in a special section on "Color in HTML".

While it doesn't cover every web development topic as thoroughly as a shelf full of specialty books would, Niederst has culled the most important information and used it to create an excellent (updated) quick reference. Especially handy for contractors and people who find themselves working on the road.

My web design bible

     I got the first edition of this book not long after it came out, around the time when I was still new to building web sites. I was shopping in my University bookstore when I decided I wanted to get a few reference books for my web design hobby. There was a wide range available, but I was looking for a small handful of books to use as a reference for whenever I got stuck.

When I spotted Web Design in a Nutshell I knew I had found exactly what I was looking for. It covered the topics I needed in just the right amount of detail, not too technical but not patronising either. Needless to say, I only did buy the one book that day, it was the best £15 I ever spent on a computer book!

The first edition of Web Design in a Nutshell was the tattiest computer book I owned, and with very good reason. While I may be a dab hand with the old HTML code, there are times when I'm not sure if I'm using the right code or if a certain tag will work. I wish that there were more books like this, it has enough detail to satisfy those new to HTML as well as an easy to use reference for those with bad memories!

The second version of Web Design in a Nutshell contains all the same quality information as the first (revised and updated obviously). One of the most important changes made is to update the advice given about the use of CSS in favor of depreciated tags now that CSS is better supported. Revised chapters on the images formats and the new ones added covering new topics such as SMIL and designing for mobile devices make the book more appealing to a much wider web developing audience. As ever there is the useful HTML reference and CSS support chart, which, to be honest was the main reason for me buying the 2nd edition soon after it was printed!

This book, whatever version you can get your hands on, is a must have. I've often found myself referring to Web Design in a Nutshell as my "Web Design Bible", it is the only HTML reference book I have! The only thing that lets it down, is its suceptability to age - web technologies move quickly and I'll no doubt be updating my copy of this book as and when new versions become available.