XML Basics

XML is...

A simplified subset of SGML (ISO 8879:1986) developed by a cross-industry group organized and led by Sun Microsystems

Not new: builds on 30 years of research and 14 years of SGML standardization

Offers powerful data modeling -- no limits on namespace or structural depth

But small enough for Web browsers

Not a language but a metalanguage

Designed to support the definition of an unlimited number of languages for specific industries and applications

All XML languages can be processed by a single lightweight parser