Work stops on the XHTML language, but W3C still plans an XML formulation of HTML5, to be done by the HTML working group. A prominent AJAX and Web development proponent applauded the W3C decision.

"XHTML 2 was a beautiful specification of philosophical purity that had absolutely no resemblance to the real world," said Bruce Lawson, HTML 5 evangelist for browser maker Opera. So what went wrong?

For instance, the W3C’s new XHTML v2 standard works to further establish the separation between content and presentation, whereas the WHATWG ’s HTML v5 approach investigated how HTML is used ...

XHTML 2 Dies a Lonely Death, Makes Room For HTML 5 The web’s governing body has taken XHTML 2.0 off life support.