The Advantages of Using XML

XML or Extensible Markup Language allows users their own tag definition and is also called a general-purpose mark up language. Different information systems can share structured data using the XML language.

Using XML you can not only organize data but also encode documents. Given below are a few advantages of using XML.

It’s simple

If you use XML to code information, it becomes easier to read and understand. More importantly, computers can process such information easily.

Context information is machine readable

All kinds of contextual information are provided by factors like attributes, structure of elements, and tags. This means that the meaning of the content can be easily interpreted. This opens up new possibilities for search engines, data mining agents etc.

Can be extended

There is no fixed number of tags in XML. Tags are created as and when they are needed.

Self description

When administrators have to store XML documents, they do no have to set up schemas, as they have to do with data records of traditional databases. Such definitions are not required in this language because the data herein is actually meta-data and takes the form of a myriad of attributes and tags.

At the element level, there is a provision for identification and versioning in XML.

Content can be separated from presentation

XML differs from HTML in various aspects but one difference stands out. HTML tags describe presentation whereas XML tags give description of the meaning. What this essentially means is that you can control how an XML document looks or feels by using an XSL style sheet.

This will allow a user to change the look of the document without modifying the content in any way or form. The same content can be presented in different forms and can also be viewed in different ways.

It offers support to Unicode and multilingual documents

All multilingual documents and Unicode can be supported by XML. This means that all applications in XML can be internationalized.

Compares and aggregates data

XML documents have a tree like structure and hence this facilitates the aggregation and comparison of all data on a step-by-step basis and from one element to another.

Embeds multiple data types

The great advantage of using XML is that its documents have the capability to embed all kinds of data which includes Java applets, Active X, and various kinds of multimedia data as well.

Embeds existing data

Users can map their existing data structures, which can include relational databases, or even file structure to XML. Most data formats are supported by XML.

‘One server view’ for all kinds of distributed data

Nested elements form an integral part of all XML documents. These elements are to be found on multiple servers, but through XML it can viewed over only one server. When it comes to managing distributed data, there can be nothing as sophisticated as XML.

These advantages can be summed up by mentioning one important point. Most of the big software giants have already announced their support for XML. Companies like SAP, Microsoft, Netscape and many more are going to use XML for a variety of purposes in their applications.