XML

Definition

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a flexible text format that is designed to store and transport data. It allows users to define their own tags, making it easy to create custom data structures. This versatility is particularly valuable in web services and data interchange, as it ensures that different systems can share information without losing meaning or context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. XML separates data from presentation, allowing for easier data manipulation and retrieval across different platforms.
2. Unlike HTML, XML allows users to create custom tags, providing greater flexibility in defining the structure of the data.
3. XML is platform-independent, meaning it can be used across different systems and programming languages without compatibility issues.
4. It is widely used in web services for data exchange, allowing various applications to communicate with each other seamlessly.
5. XML documents are self-descriptive and can include metadata about the data they contain, enhancing understanding and usability.

Review Questions

• How does XML facilitate data interchange between different systems?
  • XML facilitates data interchange by providing a standardized format that is both flexible and self-descriptive. By using user-defined tags, XML allows diverse systems to interpret shared data without ambiguity. This means that applications written in different programming languages or running on different platforms can understand the same XML document, ensuring effective communication and data exchange.
• Compare and contrast XML and JSON in terms of their usage in web services.
  • XML and JSON both serve as data interchange formats in web services, but they have distinct differences. XML is more verbose and supports complex structures with custom tags and attributes, making it suitable for applications requiring extensive metadata. In contrast, JSON is simpler and lighter, making it easier to read and faster to parse. While XML is often used in protocols like SOAP, JSON has become increasingly popular with RESTful web services due to its efficiency.
• Evaluate the role of XML in modern web development and its impact on data representation.
  • XML plays a significant role in modern web development by providing a robust framework for representing structured data. Its extensibility allows developers to define custom markup for specific applications, making it highly adaptable across various domains. The impact of XML on data representation is profound; it promotes interoperability between systems by standardizing how information is shared. As a result, XML remains a crucial tool for developers aiming to ensure that their applications can effectively communicate with one another in an increasingly interconnected world.

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 the structure of data.

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.

SOAP:

SOAP, or Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol for exchanging structured information in web services, often using XML as its message format.