W3C Process
The W3C standardization process is divided into 7 different steps.
W3C Specification Approval Steps
In the process of W3C publishing a new standard, a specification is gradually developed from a simple idea into a Recommendation through the following strict procedure:
- W3C receives a submission.
- W3C publishes a Note.
- W3C creates a Working Group.
- W3C publishes a Working Draft.
- W3C publishes a Candidate Recommendation.
- W3C publishes a Proposed Recommendation.
- W3C publishes a Recommendation.
The following sections of this tutorial summarize the W3C activities for HTML, CSS, XML, and XSL, including the status and timeline of each Web standard.
W3C Submission (W3C Submissions)
Any W3C member may submit to the Consortium a proposal that they hope will become a Web standard. Most W3C Recommendations originate from a submission made to the Consortium.
If a submission falls within W3C's scope of work (or charter), W3C will decide whether to start work on improving the proposal.
W3C Note (W3C Notes)
Usually, a submission to W3C becomes a Note. A Note is a description of a proposal that is refined as a public document.
W3C merely records user discussions. Publication of a Note does not imply endorsement of it. The content of a Note is edited by the member who submitted it, rather than by W3C. A Note may be updated, replaced, or abandoned at any time. Publication of a Note also does not mean that W3C has initiated any work related to it.
W3C Working Group (W3C Working Groups)
When a submission is accepted by W3C, a Working Group is formed, consisting of members and other interested parties.
The Working Group usually defines a schedule and publishes Working Drafts for the proposed standard.
W3C Working Draft (W3C Working Drafts)
W3C Working Drafts are usually published on the W3C website, together with an invitation for public comments.
Working Drafts describe work in progress, but should not be used as reference material. Their content may be updated, replaced, or abandoned at any time.
W3C Candidate Recommendation (W3C Candidate Recommendations)
Some specifications are more complex than others and may require more funding, more time, and more testing from members and software developers. At times, these specifications are released as Candidate Recommendations.
A Candidate Recommendation is also a "work in progress" and should likewise not be used as reference material. This document may be updated, replaced, or abandoned at any time.
W3C Proposed Recommendation (W3C Proposed Recommendations)
A Proposed Recommendation represents the final stage of work within a Working Group.
A Proposed Recommendation is also a "work in progress". This document may be updated, replaced, or abandoned at any time. However, even though it does not imply any official endorsement by W3C, in most cases a Proposed Recommendation is already close to the final Recommendation, both in content and in timing.
W3C Recommendation (W3C Recommendations)
A W3C Recommendation has passed review by W3C Members and received formal approval from the W3C Director.
A W3C Recommendation is a stable document and may be used as reference material.
The following sections of this tutorial summarize the W3C activities for HTML, CSS, XML, and XSL, including the status and timeline of each Web standard.