Introduction to XML: Understanding the Foundations of Extensible Markup Language

Intermediate

🗂️ Introduction to XML (eXtensible Markup Language)

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a flexible, text-based markup language used to define, store, and transport data in a human-readable and machine-readable format. Unlike HTML, which focuses on how data is displayed, XML emphasizes data structure and semantics, making it ideal for data interchange across diverse systems.

Its self-descriptive tags enable developers to create custom vocabularies suited to specific applications, fostering interoperability.

Understanding XML begins with recognizing its syntax rules, basic components, and its role in:

  • 🌐 Modern web services
  • ⚙️ Configuration files
  • 💾 Data storage solutions

⭐ Key Features of XML

  • 💻 Platform independence
  • 👁️ Human-readable syntax
  • 🧩 Extensibility via custom tags
  • 🌲 Support for complex data hierarchies

📄 XML documents are composed of elements, attributes, and nested structures that collectively represent data models suitable for a variety of applications, from media catalogs to financial transactions.