Send Out XHTML to Browsers That Support It

A while ago I saw this useful tip to instruct an ASP.NET 2.0 application to send the response as valid XHTML / XML.
It's as simple as adding the following to your Global class / global.asax file: 
VB.NET
Sub Application_PreSendRequestHeaders(ByVal o As Object, _
        ByVal e As EventArgs)

  If Array.IndexOf(Request.AcceptTypes, "application/xhtml+xml") > -1 Then
    Response.ContentType = "application/xhtml+xml"
  End If
End Sub

C#
protected void Application_PreSendRequestHeaders(Object o, EventArgs e)
{
  if (Array.IndexOf(Request.AcceptTypes, "application/xhtml+xml") > -1)
  {
    Response.ContentType = "application/xhtml+xml";
  }
}

This way, browsers that support it (like FireFox) get the page served as XHTML / XML, while other browsers (like IE), get it as plain HTML.

You can read the full details in the XHTML and MIME Types section of the article "Building ASP.NET 2.0 Web Sites Using Web Standards" at the MSDN site.


Where to Next?

Wonder where to go next? You can post a comment on this article.

Doc ID 394
Full URL https://imar.spaanjaars.com/394/send-out-xhtml-to-browsers-that-support-it
Short cut https://imar.spaanjaars.com/394/
Written by Imar Spaanjaars
Date Posted 05/23/2006 19:35

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