ssd2 / Exam 3 Practical / 6

6. XML

1. What does the term “XML” stand for? What is the function of XML tags, and how does the function of XML tags differ from the function of HTML tags?

XML tags can be used to describe what a piece of text means.

Difference between HTML and XML is that there are no predefined tags in XML. Users have the freedom to define their own tags.

XML allows the author to define his own tags and his own document structure. By using tags to encapsulate data, XML can represent complex data structures, such as records from a database.

2. Contrast the flexibility of using XML tags and HTML tags.

Another major difference between HTML and XML is that there are no predefined tags in XML. Users have the freedom to define their own tags.

3. What is XSL? What is the function of XSL in terms of XML?

XSL is a language for creating a style sheet that describes how data sent over the Web using the XML is to be presented to the user.

XSL gives a developer the tools to describe exactly which data fields in an XML file to display and exactly where and how to display them. Like any style sheet language, XSL can be used to create a style definition for one XML document or reused for many other XML documents

4. What does a DTD file do?

A DTD (document type definition) ensures that all the documentation is formatted in the same way. Applications can use the DTD to read and display the content of the document. One advantage of using the DTD is that changing the document format would involve just modifying the DTD.

5. What is one reason why storing data in XML may be preferred to enable multiple systems to exchange data?

XML can represent complex data structures and it allows the author to define his own tags and his own document structure. XML is composed of text, it is software and hardware independent, meaning any computer system would be able to interpret an XML document. Due to XML's flexibility and interoperability, it is becoming the standard for exchanging data over the Internet