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EPUBCheck · XHTML content documents

HTM-045

Updated:

EPUBCheck HTM-045 is a usage message: “Encountered empty href.” A link has an empty href, which points back to the same document.

The official message

Encountered empty href.

EPUBCheck's suggestion: Empty hrefs are valid self-references. These should be validated to ensure that this is the desired intent.

Default severity
Usage. Informative only and hidden by default: it appears when EPUBCheck runs with -u (--usage). It does not make the EPUB invalid.
EPUBCheck version
5.4.0

Typical causes

  • Placeholder links that were never filled in.

How to fix it

  • Give the link a real target, or remove the a element if it should not be a link.

Terms used here

Other HTM messages

  • HTM-046 Fixed layout document has no "viewport" meta element.
  • HTM-047 Viewport metadata "…" has a syntax error
  • HTM-048 SVG Fixed-Layout Documents must have a "viewBox" attribute (on the outermost "svg" element).
  • HTM_055 The "…" element should not be used (discouraged construct)
  • HTM_057 Viewport "…" value must be a positive number or the keyword "device-…"

Message text and severity from EPUBCheck 5.4.0 (W3C, BSD-3-Clause). Explanation by EPUBLab.

FAQ

What does EPUBCheck HTM-045 mean?

EPUBCheck HTM-045 is a usage message: “Encountered empty href.” A link has an empty href, which points back to the same document.

Is HTM-045 an error?

HTM-045 is reported as usage by default. Informative only and hidden by default: it appears when EPUBCheck runs with -u (--usage). It does not make the EPUB invalid.