Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming, Third Edition

Chapter 19. Introduction to XML

In This Chapter

• XML and Its Impact

• Multiple Platforms

• A Complete XML Example

Pundits believe that the next decade of Web activity will be better than the previous one because of eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Only time will tell whether or not XML will meet these expectations, but most agree that XML provides the means for more advanced Web page technology and, more importantly, provides a way for companies with large Web sites to maintain those sites, create additional sites more easily, and share data with other sites. In this chapter, you will get a glimpse into the technology of XML.

• XML describes both the format and the content of a Web page.

• XML extends routine HTML command tags.

• XML code must be both valid ...