On 14 February 2011, the W3C extended the charter of its HTML Working Group with clear milestones for HTML 5. In May 2011, the working group advanced HTML 5 to "Last Call", an invitation to communities inside and outside W3C to confirm the technical soundness of the specification. The W3C developed a comprehensive test suite to achieve broad interoperability for the full specification by 2014, which was the target date for recommendation.[28] In January 2011, the WHATWG renamed its "HTML5" specification HTML Living Standard". The W3C nevertheless continued its project to release HTML 5.[29]
In July 2012, WHATWG and W3C decided on a degree of separation. W3C will continue the HTML 5 specification work, focusing on a single definitive standard, which is considered as a "snapshot" by WHATWG. The WHATWG organization continues its work with HTML 5 as a "living standard". The concept of a living standard is that it is never complete and is always being updated and improved. New features can be added but functionality will not be removed.[30]
In December 2012, W3C designated HTML 5 as a Candidate Recommendation.[31] The criterion for advancement to W3C Recommendation is "two 100% complete and fully interoperable implementations".[32]
On 16 September 2014, W3C moved HTML 5 to Proposed Recommendation.[33] On 28 October 2014, HTML 5 was released as a W3C Recommendation,[34] bringing the specification process to completion.[2] On 1 November 2016, HTML 5.1 was released as a W3C Recommendation.[35] On 14 December 2017, HTML 5.2 was released as a W3C Recommendation.[36]
