Title Of Blog.
Just to get some perspective on what’s to follow, let’s review: It’s two thousand and blessed six. Almost seven. We’ve come so far as a civilization. It’s been decades since we put a man on the moon. We’re building a space station. We’ve been able to determine that Abraham Lincoln had depression. Women can vote now! And Justin Timberlake is courageously bringing sexy back after it’s been lost for so, so long. This is truly a magical time.
So why do many respected and established web publishers seem to hate <title> element and, by extension, me? Titles are great! With a properly-formed title, I can look up at the top of my browser an see exactly where I am and what I’m reading. The best sites might employ some nifty breadcrumb system, but there are certainly other options.
So in these modern times, when the aforementioned sexy is being brought back, crazy Korean dictators can detonate nuclear weapons underground with virtually no reprisal and personal jetpacks are just around the corner, it’s irksome to reach an article I’d like to bookmark and, when doing so, discover that my bookmark reads something like “Pete’s Blog.” This informational oversight is akin to an author like Stephen King labeling all the chapters of his new book “Stephen King’s Book.” A decision like that may then make way for a lively conversation at the watercooler that might go a little something like this:
“Hey Biff, are you reading the new Stephen King book?”
“Yes, Sally, I am. It’s great! What chapter are you on?”
“I’m on Chapter ‘Stephen King’s Book’.”
“Woah, me too! I can’t believe the main character’s wife turned out to be a succubus!”
“What? Oh, great. Thanks for ruining the ending for me, Biff. You’re a real jerkface.”
And… scene.
Titles are important, and not just because they save friendships and keep people from being jerkfaces. They describe the content of the active page in a browser, hidden tabbed pages and bookmarks. Do not sections, articles or blog posts have headlines? Titles? Other identifying markers? Wouldn’t it be more descriptive (and not to mention make you look more sexy to Google) to put the headline of the article in that page’s <title> element? The incredibly dull title “Pete’s Blog” could easily upgrade to the more useful and descriptive “How Web 2.0 Suffocated The Creativity of a Nation: an article on Pete’s Blog.” Now that’s a title! That tells me something the next time I pass that bookmark or glance at my browser tabs. It also ensures that I don’t end up with a half dozen “Pete’s Blog” bookmarks with no idea what they really are.
So there you go. Use your <head> (snicker). Let’s give the <title> element the love and attention it deserves. Then we can all move on to bigger things. Like jetpacks.
Comments
Michael Heilemann » 19 October 2006 #
Julian » 19 October 2006 #
Nathan Smith » 19 October 2006 #
Jared Christensen » 19 October 2006 #
Jared Christensen » 19 October 2006 #
Nicholas Helke » 20 October 2006 #
Rob Weychert » 20 October 2006 #
Jared Christensen » 22 October 2006 #
Kevin » 2 November 2006 #
Nathan Smith » 13 November 2006 #
