What does XML stand for?
The three familiar letters XML stand for Extensible Markup Language. In technical terms, XML is a cross-media page description language, also known simply as a programming language. The main task of XML is to process content and make it easier to access. Programmers and people whose business is online marketing encounter XML almost every day. XML also describes a text-based data format that can be edited in an editor, for example.
Why is XML needed and how did it come about?
The world has the World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C for short, to thank for XML. The aim was to create a language that is equally understandable for humans and machines. With the creation of HTML, the tags already provided a very simple way of displaying various information in the same way on different browsers. But as widespread and ingenious as HTML may be, the programming language quickly reaches its limits with some tasks. For example, when it comes to solving complicated calculations or displaying formulas, alternatives must be used. XML can be used for data descriptions and data storage, as well as for data exchange.
How to edit XML files?
Strictly speaking, XML files can be edited with any editor. However, for the sake of clarity, it is advisable to use an editor specially developed for XML that is precisely adapted to the XML syntax. This gives the programmer the benefit of tools that simplify the editing and creation of an XML document. For illustration purposes, some elements can also be highlighted in color in such editors.
How does XML work?
Like the HTML programming language, XML can describe and display any text content. XML also works with entity references, angle brackets and tags. However, the so-called tags have no meaning in XML and can also be extended by parameters if necessary. Content and layout are separated from each other in XML and are visible through a text document. Unicode text or ASCII is required to display XML. There is therefore no problem for computers of any kind to display and read the content.
What does XML mean?
The term XML comes from the English language and means Extensible Markup Language. In German, XML then becomes the extensible markup language.
Where do you need XML?
Every programmer who deals with websites and content on the Internet will stumble across XML. XML is part of the basic knowledge of every programmer and should be mastered accordingly.
Supports XML custom tags
Unlike HTML, for example, XML allows the user to define user-defined tags. There are therefore no limits to the range of applications and XML can be used in many different ways.
