tag?

Question

I noticed today while doing some testing that the way I close my <script> tag either makes or breaks my page. For example, this works:

<script src="scripts/jquery.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

but this does not:

<script src="scripts/jquery.js" type="text/javascript" />

The file appears to show up when I use IE's Developer Tools, but it seems like it just gets ignored. Has anyone ever seen this or know why it might be happening? Thanks in advance!

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '11 at 21:10

14

You must include a closing script tag. The script element is not self closing, even when you're only including an external script.

answered May 26 '11 at 21:10

KatieK

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Hmm. Now I'm wondering if one could do this: – omninonsense May 26 '11 at 21:13
That would explain it! Thanks! – lhan May 26 '11 at 21:13

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

The <script> tag can only be self-closing in truly valid XHTML documents – that is, a XHTML page served with the Content-Type of application/xhtml+xml – and when viewed in a supporting browser (IE8 does not qualify; IE9+ does).

In all other HTML documents, (regardless of what DOCTYPE is declared), the <script> tag is not self-closing and therefore must be closed with a </script>.

Read more in this very detailed answer.

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered May 26 '11 at 21:10

2

I have also noticed you always need the </script>. It's probably because it requires content between the tags ("" counts), even though you're using src.

answered May 26 '11 at 21:10

Andrea

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I wouldn't consider an empty string to be content. (At least, not in this context.) – nnnnnn May 27 '11 at 00:05

tag?

3 Answers3

Linked

tag must include separate tag?

3 Answers3

Linked

tag?