XML

Definition

XML, or eXtensible Markup Language, is a markup language used for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. It allows users to define their own tags and structure their data in a way that is easily shared across different systems, making it especially useful for data interchange on the web.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. XML is designed to store and transport data, making it ideal for sharing structured information between different systems and applications.
2. It allows users to create custom tags, enabling a flexible data structure that can adapt to various needs and requirements.
3. XML supports Unicode, which means it can represent characters from virtually any writing system, making it suitable for international applications.
4. Many web services use XML as their data format for exchanging information, particularly in API calls and responses.
5. Validation of XML documents can be achieved through DTD (Document Type Definition) or XML Schema, ensuring the data adheres to a specified structure.

Review Questions

• How does XML facilitate data interchange between different systems?
  • XML facilitates data interchange by providing a standardized format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. This flexibility allows diverse systems to share structured data without needing custom integrations. By defining custom tags, users can ensure that the information conveyed is relevant and easily understood by both sender and receiver systems.
• Compare and contrast XML with JSON in terms of usability in web services.
  • While both XML and JSON are popular formats for data interchange in web services, they have distinct characteristics. XML is more verbose with its use of custom tags and supports complex structures through nested elements, making it suitable for detailed documents. On the other hand, JSON is more lightweight and easier to read due to its simpler syntax, which makes it preferable for modern APIs focused on speed and efficiency. The choice between them often depends on the specific requirements of the application.
• Evaluate the impact of XML on data representation standards in modern web development practices.
  • XML has had a significant impact on data representation standards in modern web development practices by promoting the use of structured data formats that are platform-independent. Its ability to define custom tags allows developers to create self-descriptive data structures that enhance interoperability across various systems. Moreover, with the rise of web services using XML for API communication, it has influenced how developers think about data exchange and integration in multi-platform environments, paving the way for more robust and scalable applications.

Related terms

HTML:

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the standard markup language used to create web pages, focusing on the presentation of content rather than data structure.

JSON:

JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate, often used as an alternative to XML.

XSLT: XSLT, or eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations, is a language used for transforming XML documents into other formats, such as HTML or plain text.