XForms

XForms is a W3C specification for web forms that separates the purpose of a form (its data model) from its visual presentation, providing richer semantics than traditional HTML forms. Unlike HTML forms where controls are defined by their visual representation (radio buttons, dropdown lists), XForms defines controls by their function (single selection, multiple selection), leaving rendering decisions to the user agent. This separation of semantics from presentation makes XForms inherently more accessible and adaptable across different devices and assistive technologies. While XForms itself was not widely adopted by mainstream browsers, its design principles influenced later form technologies and demonstrated the accessibility benefits of semantically rich markup that encodes author intent rather than visual appearance.