XML guide to website construction

XML guide

XML - Extensible Markup Language

XML is a cross-platform tool for transmitting information and independent of software and hardware.

What is XML?

• XML refers to extensible markup language (EXtensible Markup Language)
• XML is a markup language that is very similar to HTML
• XML is designed to describe data
• XML tags are not predefined. You need to define the label yourself.
• XML uses File Type Declaration (DTD) or XML Schema to describe the data.
• XML with DTD or XML Schema is designed to be self-descriptive.
• XML is a W3C standard

XML doesn't do anything

ML is not doing anything. XML creates structures, stores, and carries information.

An example of an XML document above is a note written by XML from Jani to Tove. N ote the title and message body. I t also has information about where it came from. H owever, this XML document doesn't do anything. J ust pure information wrapped in XML tags. Someone must write a software to send, receive or display it:

XML tags are not predefined

XML tags are not predefined and you must "invent" your own labels.

Tags used to mark HTML documents are predefined HTML file authors can only use labels defined in HTML standards (e.g., .

XML allows the author to define his/her own labels and his/her own document structure.

The labels in the above examples (like the ones that are used in the "lt;to"t;and"from") are not defined in any XML standard. These tags were "invented" by the author of the XML document.

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How do I learn XML?

Learn our full XML tutorial