Removing obsolete HTML elements

[bsmth]

We recently had a new issue opened about <menuitem> that asks for the page (and API page) to be removed: mdn/content#32458. I took a look and would quote my reply here for convenience:

We typically defer to BCD guidelines for removing obsolete data (to avoid duplicating policies and conversations around these rules). A feature or technology is a candidate for removal if:

a feature was implemented and has since been removed from all browsers dating back two or more years ago

which matches this case, so I think removal of both of these pages is acceptable.

I discovered that we had this conversation before and it was decided to keep the pages in mdn/content#24886. Unfortunately, the rationale for keeping the pages is not visible any more, so I'm opening a GitHub Discussion so there's a record.

The question is: Is it valuable to keep this information for historical purposes as an exception to our usual policies, or is it time to remove the content?

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Related issues and PRs:

• menuitem element should be removed as obsolete content#32458
• Remove page for <menuitem> element content#24886
• Unlink BCD from menuitem element content#24927
• Discussion https://github.com/orgs/mdn/discussions/620 about IE retirement.

[Akindin]

It will be good to have section of MDN for obsolete content that store different features for historical purposes, but I think this will require a lot of work and separate section from other content so as not to confuse someone who is looking for solution of their problem on MDN.

[bsmth]

For these cases, there's exceptions via Glossary entry, see:

• Add glossary pages for <blink> and HTML color codes content#35975

[Josh-Cena]

@estelle I wonder what the motivation for keeping the page is? (Since you commented in mdn/content#24886 you might have some ideas.)

<marquee> is actually supported in browsers, but <menuitem> is not even valid markup.

[estelle]

My comment in #24866 was more "hesitation" than "opposition". If there's no BCD and it only ever worked in one browser anyhow, there is really no reason to keep the page.

[bsmth]

Thanks, both! If there's no opposition to removing the pages, I think we can accept a PR for deletion. I'm going to reply in the linked issue, so now's a good time in case you want to weigh in or if you've changed your mind.

[bsmth]

As mentioned above, there's exceptions we can make via Glossary entry, see:

mdn/content#35975

Going to close as resolved for now!