Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is more than a simple syntax for Internet
transport. It entails a new way of thinking about information.
Different communities embrace the language for different reasons. Its
platform and vendor neutrality make it a natural format for Service Oriented
Architectures and Web Services. Its simple syntax is widespread and its
schema flexibility makes XML attractive.
A widespread misconception says, "XML is only a syntax." While it's true that
the XML 1.0 standard proposed in 1997 was simply a syntax for a file, XML has
evolved beyond that humble beginning. This article studies:
The data model The type system and processing languages underlying XML as an
information model The relationships between components The potential impact
components ... (more)