Generalizations in “States of the type attribute”

[j9t]

4.10.5.1, “States of the type attribute” goes through all the different input types. However, close to each state has a sentence starting with “The input element represents a…”, where what really seems to be meant is “This input element [type] represents a…”. That is, these sentences seem to generalize what really only relates to the specific type of input.

For example, 4.10.5.1.3 says “The input element represents a control for editing a telephone number given in the element's value.” This looks like a statement about the input element in general, and is false.

It seems by switching to “This…” all of these cases could be made clearer. (I’d be happy to prepare a PR.)

[Kaiido]

No, it is not the type that does represent [xxx] it's the "input element" whose type is in [yyy] state.
E.g

When an input element's type attribute is in the Telephone state, the rules in this section apply.

The input element represents a control for editing a telephone number given in the element's value.

Here it says that with <input type=telephone>, this input element will represent a control for editing a telephone number [...].

[j9t]

I’m not sure what you’re suggesting, as you’re ending up emphasizing how “this” could be clearer.

An addition to the original suggestion, if we feel even more clarity could be useful, we could also spell each case out entirely, as in “An input element with the type tel …”. That would solve the problem of “The input element …” reading like it was meant in general.

[Kaiido]

"This" here would refer to the state the type attribute.
"The" is the proper term to refer to this input element, i.e "the" one we defined above, whose type we're discussing. I don't see how the current text is confusing.
Repeating "An input element ..." seems to only add redundancy, and I think this would introduce confusion.

[j9t]

"This" here would refer to the state the type attribute.
"The" is the proper term to refer to this input element

“The” is not the proper term for “this”, because then “the” would be called “this”.

I don’t understand the resistance against even smallest changes, but I will not comment on this. If you and the group don’t want it, discard it. I’m not here to argue.