XMLXML

Alyssa RobertsAlyssa Roberts

What is XML?What is XML?Extensible Markup LanguageExtensible Markup Language

Specification to creating custom mark-up Specification to creating custom mark-up languageslanguages

Simplified version of SGML, originally made Simplified version of SGML, originally made for people with semantic constraintsfor people with semantic constraints

Extensible – allows user to define Extensible – allows user to define mark-up elementsmark-up elements

SGML – Standard Generalized Markup SGML – Standard Generalized Markup LanguageLanguage

What does XML What does XML do?do?

XML is used for sharing structured dataXML is used for sharing structured data

Encoding documents (converting Encoding documents (converting information into symbols to be information into symbols to be communicated)communicated)

Serializing data (converting an object to Serializing data (converting an object to be stored as a filebe stored as a fileor transferred across a network)or transferred across a network)

Applications can be implemented in XMLApplications can be implemented in XML

RSS, MathML, GraphML, MusicXMLRSS, MathML, GraphML, MusicXML

What’s it used What’s it used for?for?

In business, XBRL (based on XML) In business, XBRL (based on XML)

Transfers data easilyTransfers data easily

Reporting financial resultsReporting financial results

Some Banks use itSome Banks use it

Web Publishing, single source of dataWeb Publishing, single source of data

XBRLExtensible BusinessReporting Language

ContinuedContinuedGovernment documentation, mapsGovernment documentation, maps

Airplane/car manufacturers Airplane/car manufacturers maintenance bookletsmaintenance booklets

Common format for document Common format for document storage/processingstorage/processing

Supports Unicode and is based on Supports Unicode and is based on international standardsinternational standards

ExamplesExamplesRSS feeds (used to publish frequently RSS feeds (used to publish frequently updated works)updated works)

News WebsitesNews Websites(CNN)(CNN)

OpenOfficeOpenOffice

AbiWordAbiWord

Apple’s iWorkApple’s iWorkApplicationsApplications

AdvantagesAdvantagesIt’s universalIt’s universal

It’s based on SGML which has been It’s based on SGML which has been around since 1986 so there’s a lot of around since 1986 so there’s a lot of experience and software availableexperience and software available

The structure is suitable for most The structure is suitable for most documentsdocuments

AdvantagesAdvantagesCan be updated incrementallyCan be updated incrementally

Strict syntax and parsing requirements Strict syntax and parsing requirements make it simple, efficient, and consistentmake it simple, efficient, and consistent

It’s platform independent, so it’s It’s platform independent, so it’s immune to changes in technology and immune to changes in technology and will work on any computer regardless of will work on any computer regardless of OSOS

Compared to Compared to HTMLHTML

XML is just data, whereas HTML is XML is just data, whereas HTML is about creating pages and also how they about creating pages and also how they should lookshould look

XML has nothing to do with the XML has nothing to do with the appearance of what you’re working withappearance of what you’re working with

It’s just data that you can manipulate It’s just data that you can manipulate and put where you wantand put where you want

Essentially…Essentially…XML makes data transfer and storage XML makes data transfer and storage much easiermuch easier

It has all the data in one place for youIt has all the data in one place for you

It can represent common computer It can represent common computer science data structures (records, lists, science data structures (records, lists, trees)trees)

Efficient and simpleEfficient and simple