• 1. Data Storage and Structure
  • 1.1. Data Storage
  • 1.2. XML Introduction
    • 1.2.1. Definition and Example
    • 1.2.2. XML in 3 Points
    • 1.2.3. Properties and Features
    • 1.2.4. Unit-Summary
  • 1.3. XML Syntax
  • 1.4. XML DTD / Schema
  • 1.5. Self Assessment
  • 1.6. Summary
  • 1.7. Glossary
  • 1.8. Bibliography
  • 1.9. Metadata

1.2.4. Unit-Summary

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language and is a simple, very flexible text format. The basic concepts of XML can be summarised in three points:

• XML is for structuring data: XML is a set of rules for designing text formats that let you structure your data. XML makes it easy for a computer to generate data, read data, and ensure that the data structure is unambiguous.
• XML looks a bit like HTML: Like HTML, XML makes use of tags (words bracketed by '<' and '>'). Unlike HTML that specifies what each tag means, XML uses tags only to delimit pieces of data, and leaves the interpretation of the data completely to the application that reads it.
• XML is text, but is not meant to be read: XML files are text files that people should not have to read, but may when the need arises.

XML has several properties and features:

• XML does not DO anything: XML was not designed to DO anything. XML was created to structure, store and to send information.
• XML is free and extensible: XML tags are not predefined. You must "invent" your own tags. XML allows the author to define his own tags and his own document structure.
• XML can separate Data from presentation: HTML is used to display data and XML is used to store data.
• XML is used to Exchange Data: XML facilitates the sharing of data across different systems, particularly systems connected via the Internet.

---

Update: 26.1.2012 (eLML) - Contact - Print (PDF) - © CartouCHe 2004-2007 (Creative Commons) - layout based on YAML