What does W3C stand for in the context of web development?

W3C stands for Worldwide Web Consortium, which is an organization that establishes standards for web technologies. Its main goal is to ensure the long-term growth of the web by developing protocols and guidelines that promote its evolution and interoperability across different platforms and applications. By providing these standards, W3C enables web developers to create sites that are more accessible, usable, and compatible with various devices and browsers.

Understanding W3C is crucial for web development, as compliance with its standards helps to ensure that web content is accessible to as many users as possible and that websites function effectively across different environments. This includes aspects such as HTML and CSS standards, web accessibility guidelines, and best practices for web design and development. When developers follow W3C guidelines, they contribute to a more consistent and reliable web experience for users around the globe.