XML Overview

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a specification that has been developed for transmitting information over the Web. XML is based on the Standard Global Markup Language (SGML) and is a cross-platform, software- and hardware-independent tool. In addition, it has the following attributes:

  • Is a markup language much like HTML.
  • Is designed to describe data.
  • Can be used for all types of data and graphics.
  • Is independent of applications, platforms, or vendors.
  • Allows designers to create their own customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations.
Note: XML tags are not predefined. You must define your own tags.

XML is not a replacement for HTML

XML and HTML were designed with different goals. XML was designed to describe data and to focus on what data is. HTML was designed to display data and to focus on how data looks.

Why Use XML?

Companies are moving their documents into XML for several reasons:

  • Reuse – separation of content from presentation enables multiple delivery formats.
  • Portability – XML is an international, platform-independent standard based on ASCII text, so companies can safely store their documents in XML without being tied to any one vendor.
  • Interchange – XML is a core data standard that enables XML-aware applications to interoperate and share data seamlessly.
  • Self-describing – XML is in a human readable format that users can easily view and understand.