Hex Color Codes
Hexidecimal representation of color is the most commonly used method of designating a color on a web page. There are several other methods to do this, but Hex numbers are the most reliable. Hex codes conisist of six alpha numeric digits, in the format: #RRGGBB. "RR", "GG" and "BB" are the values for Red, Green and Blue respectively.

Here is a chart of Hex colors, but you can also find Hex codes in graphic editing software like Adobe Photoshop.


ASCII Character Codes
ASCII Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Computers use ASCII to process data, and as a web designer, you must use ASCII to display special characters on your web page.

For example, to display a copyright symbol (©) on your page, you must use the code "©" in your html.

Here is a chart of commonly used ASCII Character Codes. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Section 508 Web Accessibility Tips

Here is a short list of fundamental ADA (Section 508) compliance issues regarding web page design and accessibility.

1. A text equivalent for every non-text element must be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", etc.).
2. Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation must be synchronized with the presentation.
3. Web pages must be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
4. Documents must be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
5. Redundant text links must be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
6. Client-side image maps must be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
7. Row and column headers must be identified for data tables.
8. Markup must be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
9. Frames must be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
10. Pages must be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
11. A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, must be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of these standards, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page must be updated whenever the primary page changes.
12. When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script must be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
13. When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with each of the standards listed here.
14. When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form must allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
15. A method must be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO is the process by which a web developer optimizes the pages of a website for highest positioning in Search Engine Results. There are many ways to accomplish this, btu the important thing to remember is SEO is not an event, rather it is an ongoing process. A short list of best practices in regards to SEO is below, click here for a more in-depth list of SEO tips.

SEO Tips:

• Write a Page Title, Keyword Meta Tag and Description Meta Tag.
• Use Your Keywords in:
  • Header Tags (H1, H2 and H3)
  • The first paragraph of your body text
  • Hyperlinks on your page
• Develop as many pages as you can that are focused on a particular keyword
• Submit your web site to online directories (but you should not pay to do this)
• Write Articles, Begin a blog or Add an RSS feed to your web site
• Improve Your PageRank
• Test your web pages regularly, as standards and technologies change, you may need to make updates to maintain optimization

Useful Websites:
W3C HTML Validator | Meta Tag Analyzer | ActionScript.org | PageRank Calculator