Chapter 3 - Reviewing the Fundamentals of XML

Abstract

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is fast becoming a standard for data exchange in the next generation of Internet applications. XML allows user-defined tags that make XML document handling more flexible than the conventional language of the Internet, the HyperText Markup Language (HTML). XML is quickly becoming the universal protocolfor transferring information from site-to-site via HTTP. XML offers a very simple solution to a complex problem. It offers a standard format for structuring data or information in a self-defined document format. This way, the data are kept independent of the processes that will consume the data. XML contains self-defined data in document format; so as syntax, it is platform independent. It is also easy to transmit a document from one site to another via HTTP. However, the applications of XML do not necessarily have to be limited to conventional Internet applications only; it can be used to communicate and exchange information in other contexts too. There are 10 goals defined by the creators of XML, which give a definite direction on how XML is to be used. It shall be easy to write programs that process the XML documents, the number of optional features in XML is to be kept to the absolute minimum ideally, zero; the XML documents should be human-legible and reasonably clear; and the XML design should be prepared quickly.