Boron is a base theme for Drupal which converts the core template files to HTML5 markup. Like other minimal base themes, such as Zen and Stark, it includes only a few lines of layout-driven CSS, and markup that is search engine optimized.
Unlike the others, Boron utilizes the new HTML5 doctype and semantic elements, such as Article, Header, Footer, and Section. The result is a standards-compliant theme with valid markup and minimal CSS that can be used as a jumping off point for developing new sub-themes. This leaves your site positioned to take advantage of new HTML5 features as they come into vogue.
Note: If you prefer Zen, check out our Boron for Zen sub-theme! All the benefits of Zen, with all the HTML5 goodness of Boron.
Philosophy
The goal of developing this theme was to convert the core Drupal templates to HTML5. Wherever possible, core markup, attributes and class names were left intact, and elements were simply converted to their HTML5 equivalents. This should make development easier, since this theme follows the standards and philosophies established by the core templates.
Features
- HTML5 doctype and meta content-type
- Header and Footer sections marked up with header and footer elements
- Navigation marked up with nav elements
- Sidebars marked up with aside elements
- Nodes marked up with article elements containing header and footer elements
- Comments marked up as articles with header/footer elements, nested within node elements
- Blocks marked up with section elements
- HTML5 shim script included for full IE compatibility
- Search form uses the new input type="search" attribute
- WAI-ARIA accessibility roles added to primary elements
- Updates all core modules to HTML5 markup
HTML5 References
- HTML5 reference page at Metal Toad
- Dive into HTML5 by Mark Pilgrim
- HTML5 structure—HTML 4 and XHTML 1 to HTML5
- HTML5 Doctor
- Bruce Lawson's blog using HTML5 markup
- Using WAI ARIA Landmark Roles
Development
The Boron theme was created by Scott Vandehey (spaceninja) of Metal Toad Media. Special thanks to Dylan Tack (grendzy) for code review and getting the theme posted here on drupal.org. Also thanks to our CEO, Joaquin Lippincott (metaltoad) for supporting this project.
