Standards

Before the Web:

• Access to resources typically required use of software vendor's software
• Often this was only available on limited no. of platforms
• Often the software would be licensed

The goal of the Web was to provide universal access to resources.

Who could argue with this goal?

Need for standards to provide:

• Platform and application independence
• Avoidance of patented technologies
• Flexibility and architectural integrity
• Long-term access to data