Special Edition Using XML, Second Edition

Vector Graphics on the Web

SVG will, in time, replace many uses of bitmap graphics on the Web. One crucial practical factor that will determine the rate of movement to SVG is how fast SVG viewers become widespread.

Microsoft, at the time of writing, has given no indication that SVG will be supported natively in Internet Explorer. Microsoft has developed its own standard, the Vector Markup Language (VML), to perform the same kind of functions. The Mozilla project, associated with the Netscape 6 browser, is developing native SVG capabilities. However, for some time at least, the spread of the Adobe SVG Viewer is likely to be an important determining factor in the adoption of SVG.

Adobe is making the Adobe SVG Viewer available with its graphic products, ...