XML overview
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a format for exchanging data. The format is not owned by any one organization, but is accepted by a host of companies as a standard for data interchange. XML facilitates moving structured data across the web by being independent of system or platform restrictions.
XML is the transmission format of B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer), because it enables information exchange and makes it easy to publish report information on numerous platforms and devices.
Unlike HTML, which stores a limited amount of formatting with the content, XML content is stored without formattingformatting information can be saved to a style sheet. XML content is structured to make it accessible to a wide range of users, applications, and platforms.
There are many advantages to using XML:
- XML files are reliable to use and easy to maintain because they contain only content.
- Multiple output formats can be supported simultaneously. From a single XML document, you can generate HTML for a browser, a PDF for printing, and so on.
- You can convert XML to new formats without affecting a file's content.
- Because XML uses style sheets to store formatting information, the look and feel of a web site can be changed easily.
- XML is easy to validate, so you're less likely to have incorrect information or corrupt files on your web site.
- XML makes searching through large numbers of files easier and more accurate due to its highly structured design.
- XML files can store content in multiple languages. An XML translator displays content for specific language preferences.
There are some drawbacks to consider as well:
- XML files can be very large and don't naturally support binary data, such as images.
- Existing content must be reworked to take advantage of XML's benefits and to reliably support the wide range of new devices.
- XML standards are still developing, so there's risk in selecting a particular methodology.
- Currently, there aren't many graphical content management tools available.