The principles of good layout
Most rules for good page structure are similar to those for good HTML or web page structure. Some of this is because a lot of documentation is consumed as web pages, and the roots of good web page structure originate in decades, if not centuries, of best practices for non-digital and digital printing layout tools. Despite this long and venerable history and the proven benefits of using layout best practices, it’s amazing how many tools, site builders, and sites don’t conform to them. So, with this knowledge in hand, you can be that person who gets to fix everything.
Still with me? Good – you like to help!
Good modern layout principles begin with thinking about semantics. Traditionally, this involves using the correct heading and sub-heading levels to indicate structure. It involves using paragraph breaks when relevant, tables to present data, and so on. But more recently, to reflect the modern web, “semantic” markup...
