h-feed Microformat for Modern Web Syndication
In the evolving landscape of the decentralized web, the way we structure chronological content determines how easily other services can discover and share our updates. h-feed is a draft Microformat designed to solve this by using standard HTML class attributes to mark up a stream of posts, turning a simple web page into a machine-readable feed.
How h-feed Works
At its core, h-feed allows developers and site owners to identify a sequence of entries on a page. It is specifically designed to support pages containing h-entry elements—the Microformat used to mark up individual blog entries or similar chronological posts. By applying these classes, the HTML itself becomes the data source.
Once a page is marked up with h-feed, the content can be parsed in two primary ways:
- Direct Parsing: Applications can read the HTML classes directly to extract the feed.
- Proxy Conversion: A proxy service can read the h-feed markup and convert it into established web syndication standards, such as Atom or RSS.
Evolution from hAtom
The h-feed specification is intended to supersede the previous hAtom microformat, which was also known as web slices. While h-feed provides a more modern approach, it maintains a strong connection to its predecessor.
Because h-entry provides backward compatibility with hAtom, these formats are widely adopted across the internet. This compatibility is particularly prevalent among IndieWeb sites, where users prioritize ownership of their data and the ability to syndicate content across different platforms without relying on centralized intermediaries.
Key Facts
- h-feed is a draft Microformat that uses HTML class attributes to mark up post streams.
- It relies on h-entry to define individual chronological posts.
- It can be converted into RSS or Atom feeds via proxy services.
- It replaces the older hAtom (web slices) microformat.
- It is heavily utilized within the IndieWeb community.
| Feature | h-feed / h-entry | hAtom (Web Slices) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Current Draft / Successor | Superseded |
| Implementation | HTML Class Attributes | HTML Class Attributes |
| Syndication | Direct or via RSS/Atom Proxy | Direct / Web Slices |
| Compatibility | Backward compatible with hAtom | Legacy Standard |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is h-feed?
h-feed is a draft Microformat that uses HTML class attributes to mark up a stream of chronological posts, allowing them to be parsed as feeds.
What is the relationship between h-feed and h-entry?
h-feed is used to mark up the overall stream or collection, while h-entry is used to mark up the individual entries within that stream.
Can h-feed be used with RSS or Atom?
Yes. While h-feed is a way of marking up HTML, it can be processed by a proxy that converts the markup into RSS or Atom formats.
Does h-feed replace hAtom?
Yes, h-feed is designed to supersede the hAtom microformat, also known as web slices.
Why is h-feed popular on IndieWeb sites?
It is popular because h-entry provides backward compatibility with hAtom, making it a versatile tool for users who want to syndicate their content across the web independently.