Given the size and complexity of the specification, it is not generated as a single XHTML file. Instead, each DITA topic is rendered as a separate XHTML file. The XHTML version of the specification uses certain formatting conventions to aid readers in navigating through the specification and locating material easily: Link previews and navigation links.
The DITA specification uses the content of the DITA
<shortdesc>
element to provide link previews for its
readers. These link previews are visually highlighted by a border and a colored
background. The link previews are not normative; they contain the content of
the <shortdesc>
element for the child topic, which is
rendered in a normative context as the first paragraph of the topic; the
content is identical in both renditions. The link previews serve as enhanced
navigation aids, enabling readers to more easily locate content. This usability
enhancement is one of the ways in which the specification illustrates the
capabilities of DITA and exemplifies DITA best practices.
The following screen capture illustrates how link previews are displayed in the XHTML version of the specification: