WML vs HTML: Difference and Comparison

We visit several web pages every day while surfing through the internet. These web pages are the execution of millions of lines of code written either in WML or HTML.

HTML is a more popular language that was created in the early 1990s for displaying web pages on PCs. WML focussed on wireless devices like mobile phones. 

Key Takeaways

1. WML (Wireless Markup Language) is designed for mobile devices, while HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard markup language for creating web pages.
2. WML is based on XML, making it more structured and strict than HTML.
3. HTML has a wider range of features and capabilities than WML, which has a more limited set of tags.

WML vs HTML

WML (Wireless Markup Language) is a markup language based on XML, specifically designed for micro browsers in handheld devices like mobile phones. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to create web pages and web applications for desktop and mobile browsers.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is an extensively used computer language for creating web pages. It is not a programming language, as it cannot perform any dynamic functions.

HTML, along with CSS (cascading style sheet), is used to design a web page. It is responsible for all the navigation, like linking other web pages, drop-down menus, displaying images, etc. 

Wireless Markup Language (WML) is known as an XML document type that is especially used for developing websites opened and navigated on mobile phones.

WML was launched in the market a few years after HTML, and this language is based on HTML and HDML. In WML, the displayed pictures are in a monochrome format, unlike HTML.  

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	WML	HTML
Definition	WML stands for Wireless Markup Language which is currently considered as a now-obsolete markup language for wireless devices like mobiles.	HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language which is a standard markup language used for creating web pages.
Creator	The WAP Forum (OMA SpecWorks currently) created WML 1.1 in 1998.	Tim Berners-Lee, a computer scientist and a professor at MIT, created the first version of HTML in 1993.
Devices	WML was created for wireless devices like mobile phones and PDAs.	HTML is mainly used in desktop computers but it can be customized for mobile devices as well.
Processing Power	In WML, displaying documents requires less processing power.	In HTML, displaying documents requires more processing power.
Image Format	In WML, the images are stored in WBMP (Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap Format) format.	In HTML there are multiple options to store images including JPEG, GIF, and PNG.
Transmission	WML requires less bandwidth for the transmission of its documents.	HTML requires more bandwidth for the transmission of its documents.
Advantages	WML supports limited graphics with a limited gray scale.	HTML can integrate with other languages.

What is WML?

WML is a markup language used to develop websites displayed on wireless devices like mobile phones.

While developing a WML, there are a few constraints that need to be kept in mind, like small screens for display, limited memory, less bandwidth, etc. In a web page designed using WML, the images are monochromatic and stored in WBMP format. 

WML has features like proving passwords, inserting the option for selecting different options, text entry control, etc.

The users also have the liberty to choose if they want to type or use voice. It also shows browsing history and navigation through hyperlinks.

WML is case-sensitive, and it also makes use of tags but is comparatively lesser than HTML. WML scripts are stored in different files, and a set of WML cards is referred to as a Deck.

In WML, closing tags (use of /) are very important. 

What is HTML?

HTML is a markup language that is used for developing websites displayed on PCs. While developing a website using HTML, there are no such constraints as in the case of WML.

HTML and CSS developed a very flexible web page with features like elements, links, tags, and attributes. 

Unlike HTML, the image or any other form of media displayed on a web page is colorful. They can also be stored in various formats like JPG, PNG, or GIF. HTML is used extensively to add hyperlinks the web pages.

The closing tags are not always necessary in HTML.

There are three main elements of HTML. They are the opening tag, content, and closing tag. And each page uses three main tags, namely, <html>, <head>, and <body>.

HTML is a beginner-friendly markup language, and since it is open-source, it is accessible to everyone. 

Main Differences Between WML and HTML

1. WML stands for Wireless Markup Language, which is currently considered obsolete for wireless devices like mobiles. On the other hand, HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, a standard markup language used for creating web pages. 
2. The WAP Forum (OMA SpecWorks currently) created WML 1.1 in 1998, while Tim Berners-Lee, a computer scientist and a professor at MIT, created the first version of HTML in 1993. 
3. WML was created for wireless devices like mobile phones and PDAs, whereas HTML is mainly used in desktop computers but can also be customized for mobile devices.
4. In WML, displaying documents requires less processing power, whereas HTML documents require more processing power while displaying. 
5. In WML, the images are stored in WBMP (Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap Format) format. But, HTML has multiple options to store images, including JPEG, GIF, and PNG. 
6. WML requires less bandwidth for the transmission of its documents as compared to HTML.
7. One advantage of WML is that it supports limited graphics with a limited grey scale. But, HTML is superior to WML in the sense it can integrate with other languages. 

References

1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/822065/