Editing World Wide Web Consortium (section)

==Specification maturation==
W3C develops technical specifications for [[HTML5]], [[CSS]], [[SVG]], [[Web Open Font Format|WOFF]], the [[Semantic Web Stack|Semantic Web stack]], [[XML]], and other technologies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Standards |url=https://www.w3.org/standards/ |publisher=World Wide Web Consortium |access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref> Sometimes, when a specification becomes too large, it is split into independent modules that can mature at their own pace. Subsequent editions of a module or specification are known as levels and are denoted by the first integer in the title (e.g. CSS3 = Level 3). Subsequent revisions on each level are denoted by an integer following a decimal point (for example, CSS2.1 = Revision 1).

The W3C standard formation process is defined within the W3C process document, outlining four maturity levels through which each new standard or recommendation must progress.<ref name="W3CDevProc">{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/tr.html#rec-advance |title= Development Process |publisher=W3C |date=2005-04-12 |access-date=2012-04-03}}</ref>

=== Working draft (WD) ===
After enough content has been gathered from 'editor drafts' and discussion, it may be published as a working draft (WD) for review by the community. A WD document is the first form of a standard that is publicly available. Commentary by virtually anyone is accepted, though no promises are made with regard to action on any particular element commented upon.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

At this stage, the standard document may have significant differences from its final form. As such, anyone who implements WD standards should be ready to significantly modify their implementations as the standard matures.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

=== Candidate recommendation (CR) ===
A candidate recommendation is a version of a more mature standard than the WD. At this point, the group responsible for the standard is satisfied that the standard meets its goal. The purpose of the CR is to elicit aid from the development community on how implementable the standard is.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

The standard document may change further, but significant features are mostly decided at this point. The design of those features can still change due to feedback from implementors.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

=== Proposed recommendation (PR) ===
A proposed recommendation is the version of a standard that has passed the prior two levels. The users of the standard provide input. At this stage, the document is submitted to the W3C Advisory Council for final approval.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

While this step is important, it rarely causes any significant changes to a standard as it passes to the next phase.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

=== W3C recommendation (REC) ===
This is the most mature stage of development. At this point, the standard has undergone extensive review and testing, under both theoretical and practical conditions. The standard is now endorsed by the W3C, indicating its readiness for deployment to the public, and encouraging more widespread support among implementors and authors.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

Recommendations can sometimes be implemented incorrectly, partially, or not at all, but many standards define two or more levels of conformance that developers must follow if they wish to label their product as W3C-compliant.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

=== Later revisions ===
A recommendation may be updated or extended by separately-published, non-technical [[Erratum|errata]] or editor drafts until sufficient substantial edits accumulate for producing a new edition or level of the recommendation. Additionally, the W3C publishes various kinds of informative notes which are to be used as references.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />

=== Certification ===
Unlike the [[Internet Society]] and other international standards bodies, the W3C does not have a certification program. The W3C has decided, for now, that it is not suitable to start such a program, owing to the risk of creating more drawbacks for the community than benefits.<ref name="W3CDevProc" />