Microformats: Small Solutions for Specific Situations

Microformats are getting increasing media attention these days, thanks to folks with an understanding of structured content, content standards and content reuse. This is particulary true in the world of structured blogging.

According to the Microformats Blog microformats are “a set of simple, open data formats (designed for humans first, machines second) built upon existing and widely adopted standards. Instead of throwing away what works today, microformats intend to solve simpler problems first by adapting to current behaviors and usage patterns (e.g. XHTML, blogging).”

The Microformats Wiki expands that definition. “Microformats are simple conventions for embedding semantic markup for a specific problem domain in human-readable (X)HTML/XML documents, Atom/RSS feeds, and ‘plain’ XML that normalize existing content usage patterns using brief, descriptive class names often based on existing interoperable standards to enable decentralized development of resources, tools, and services.”

A sampling of microformat content types

• hCalendar – a simple open, distributed calendaring and events format
• hCard – a simple, open, distributed contact information format for people, companies, and organizations
• rel-license – a simple, open, format for indicating content licenses

Some interesting draft microformats

• addr – (working name, pronounced “adder”) a simple format for marking up address information
• geo – (working name, pronounced “gee-oh”) a simple format for marking up geographic latitude longitude information
• hReview – a simple, open, distributed reviews format
• xFolk – a simple and open format for publishing collections of bookmarks
• rel-home – a hyperlink format indicating that the destination of a hyperlink is the homepage of the site in which the current page appears
• hAtom – a microformat for content that can be syndicated, primarily but not exclusively weblog postings

It’s not clear yet whether widespread adoption of microformats will occur. There are several projects underway that plan to incorporate microformat standards in ways that significantly improve the findability, retrievability, accessability, and usability of content.

Learn more about microformats.

Find out what the press is saying about microformats.

View microformat presentations.

Read microformat testimonials.