As was mentioned in previous lessons, the World Wide Web community is moving rapidly toward standards-based development. An important part of this movement is that we, as web developers, separate our content from its presentation. The way this is achieved is by using CSS layout and positioning (CLP).
CLP allows us to leave tables behind, where the presentation and content were intimately mixed. CLP allows us to change the format and layout of our pages without touching anything but the external style sheet. If you need any more selling about this idea, or don't yet see the power of it, then please take a quick side trip and visit CSS Zen Garden. CSS Zen Garden has interesting content, to be sure. But what is really interesting here is what the site demonstrates. This separation of content and presentation we've been talking about here is demonstrated in a very effective way. Make sure you click on the links on the right side within the "select a design" navigation box. Realize that no matter which link you click, you are viewing exactly the same content on the same html pages. The only difference is the external style sheet!
Let's get started looking at this very interesting and powerful technology! Just click on the "next" link below.