eXtensible Markup Language

David Turner, Product Manager, Microsoft ''The introduction of XML is in many ways like the creation of writing in the evolution of language. People had spoken language for a long period before they got to the point of inventing writing. But as soon as they did, they were able to make huge steps forward.''

Data on the Web: HTML and XML  The Web is  A huge collection of hypermedia documents  A gateway to databases and applications  A platform for interacting with services (Web Services)  It started with HTML  Markup language to define document layout  Hyperlinks for navigation  Interactive forms

Data on the Web: HTML and XML (Cont’d)  Limitations of HTML  Structure of data expressed as layout (example)  Semantics of data hard to analyse and difficult to share  No schemas, no constraints  Thus XML (eXtensible Markup Language) has been developed  Markup language to define structured documents  Document schemas to fix the structure of documents  User-defined markup to express semantics  XML architecture for processing and extended functionality

What is XML? XML means “Extensible Markup Language” XML means “Extensible Markup Language” extensible - not fixed format like HTML extensible - not fixed format like HTML XML is a metalanguage - a language for describing other languages XML is a metalanguage - a language for describing other languages Enables you to define your own customized markup languages for different classes of documents Enables you to define your own customized markup languages for different classes of documents

What is XML? (cont.) Abbreviated version of SGML Abbreviated version of SGML IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Sun all agree: XML is the key to e-business IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Sun all agree: XML is the key to e-business XML enables business application sharing, direct transactions and other business applications. XML enables business application sharing, direct transactions and other business applications.

What is SGML? SGML is the international standard for defining descriptions of the structure and content of different types of electronic documents SGML is the international standard for defining descriptions of the structure and content of different types of electronic documents A universal language used to describe thousands of different data types A universal language used to describe thousands of different data types

What is HTML? HTML is HyperText Markup Language, a specific application of SGML used on the World Wide Web HTML is HyperText Markup Language, a specific application of SGML used on the World Wide Web A simple, fixed type of document. Markup designed for simple reports with provisions for hypertext links and multimedia A simple, fixed type of document. Markup designed for simple reports with provisions for hypertext links and multimedia

Relationship Between XML and HTML

Example: Data in HTML Vs XML

Data and Document

What does XML mean for e-commerce? (cont) Companies running different accounting and business management applications will exchange documents in a cross-system flow Companies running different accounting and business management applications will exchange documents in a cross-system flow ebXML is mapping business processes to facilitate XML to XML B2B ebXML is mapping business processes to facilitate XML to XML B2B

XML Organizations Over 250 XML industry efforts documented by Robin Cover at OASIS.org Over 250 XML industry efforts documented by Robin Cover at OASIS.org XML.org, XML.com, RossettaNet.org XML.org, XML.com, RossettaNet.org UDDI: Facilities XML to XML exchanges UDDI: Facilities XML to XML exchanges XBRL: The Business Reporting Language XBRL: The Business Reporting Language