Basic XML knowledge 1 (how to use XML ?)

XML can be used to describe data, focusing on 'what is data '.

HTML is used to display data, focusing on 'how to display data '.

What is XML?

• XML is EXTensibleMArkupLAnguage
• XML is a markup language similar to HTML.
• XML is used to describe data.
• XML tags are not pre-defined in XML. You must define your own tags.
• XML uses document type definition (DTD) or schema to describe data.
• After using DTD or schema, XML is a self-described language.

What are the main differences between XML and HTML?

XML is used to store data.

XML is not a substitute for HTML. xml and HTML are two different languages.

XML is designed to describe data, focusing on what is data and how to store data.
HTML is designed to display data. The focus is on displaying data and how to display data better.

HTML is related to display information, while XML is related to description information.

XML does nothing

XML is designed to do nothing.

It may seem hard to understand, but in fact, XML does not do anything. XML is only used to organize, store, and send information.

The following example shows the notes from ORDM to Lin in XML format:

<note> <to>Lin</to> <from>Ordm</from>

This note has an information header and subject, and also includes the sender and recipient. Even so, this XML document still does nothing. It only uses XML to mark the files that store information. Someone has written software that sends, receives, and displays information in this format.

XML is free and scalable

XML markup is not pre-defined. You must create your own markup.

The tags defined in rules must be used in HTML documents. For example, <p> <br> <A> </a>.

XML allows you to define your own tag and document structure.

For example, the "<to>" and "<from>" tags in the preceding example are not defined in the XML specification. These tags are created by the creator of the XML document.

XML is a supplement to HTML

XML is not a substitute for HTML.

XML is not a substitute for HTML. It is very important to understand this. In future web development, XML will be used to describe and store data, while HTML will be used to format and display data.

The best description of XML is that XML is a cross-platform tool that is independent of software and hardware and processes information.

Application of XML in future Web Development

XML is everywhere

The rapid development of XML is amazing, and many software developers have adopted XML standards.

We believe that in the future web development, XML will be equally valued as HTML, and they are the basis of web technology. XML will become the most common tool for data manipulation and data transmission.