Which organisation is primarily responsible for developing and maintaining open web standards such as HTML, CSS and many core internet technologies?

Introduction / Context:
Web standards ensure that websites and web applications work consistently across different browsers and devices. Instead of each browser vendor inventing its own incompatible features, an independent body coordinates the design of common specifications like HTML and CSS. Understanding who owns and manages these standards is a basic part of web technology knowledge and is often asked in entry level interviews and exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are examples of web browsers, not standard bodies.
• There is an international consortium specifically formed to develop web standards.
• The question refers to the official organisation, not individual companies.

Concept / Approach:
The World Wide Web Consortium, commonly abbreviated as W3C, was founded by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the web. It brings together member organisations, staff and the public to develop open standards for web technologies. Browser vendors then implement these standards so that content authors can rely on consistent behaviour. While companies like Microsoft and Netscape have influenced web technology through their products, they are not the official standard making body.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are browser products rather than organisations dedicated to standards.Step 2: Recall that W3C is widely known as the central body responsible for HTML and CSS specifications.Step 3: Option C names The World Wide Web Consortium, which matches this description.Step 4: Options A and B incorrectly treat specific browsers as if they make official standards.Step 5: Option D claims that all options are correct, which contradicts the role of W3C, so option C must be the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Visiting the official W3C website shows specifications like HTML, CSS and many web APIs being developed and published under its name. Documentation from browser vendors explicitly references W3C standards when describing compliance. No similar claims are made that individual browsers alone define the standards for everyone else. This confirms that The World Wide Web Consortium is the recognised standardisation organisation for the web.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Internet Explorer, is a browser that implements standards but does not formally define them. Option B, Netscape Navigator, was an early browser competitor and also followed or extended standards but was not the standards body. Option D is wrong because including all of the above would mean that every listed browser independently makes web standards, which is not how the web is governed.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse popular software products with the organisations that create underlying protocols or standards. For example, they might think a dominant browser vendor controls the entire web. In reality, standards are developed by neutral bodies such as W3C and WHATWG, with input from many stakeholders. Remembering this separation between implementers and standard bodies is important when discussing interoperability and open web principles.

Final Answer:
The World Wide Web Consortium