“The XML Handbook”

June 8, 1999

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Shawks: How is XML good for e-Commerce in particular?

Charles Goldfarb: That's because XML can actually transfer database information, and preserve all the meta data within the XML markup. Application servers and browsers can process that XML data just as if it had come directly from a database.

Ky1: Is XML standard? Can I rely on it?

Charles Goldfarb: It depends on what you mean by "standard" and what kind of application you have in mind. XML is an approved recommendation of the World Wide Web consortium.the same people who develop and maintain the HTML recommendation. XML is also a subset of SGML, an international standard maintained by the international standards organization.

Pandaberry: Should I learn SGML to understand XML?

Charles Goldfarb: It isn't required. You can learn XML from the "XML Handbook" without knowing a thing about SGML, and be able to use XML productively. However, there is no question that learning SGML will give you a deeper understanding of XML.

Ky1: Do you think XML is better for large companies who tend to have larger, more complex Web sites, or for smaller, lower-traffic sites?

Charles Goldfarb: It depends on what you are doing on the site. For companies who need to link their sites dynamically to enterprise databases, XML is rapidly becoming essential. Every major software company is offering XML support in its web servers and databases.

Blueyes: Do you see XML taking over the net as it becomes more well known?

Charles Goldfarb: XML is already taking over the net, even without being well known. That's because websites use it to communicate with one another without the user being aware. For example, your home finance program gets data from your stockbroker and finance companies using XML.

Pandaberry: How do you feel about the controversy between XSL and CSS?

Charles Goldfarb: XSL (the XML style language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are two different ways to specify how an XML document should be processed. Both have their uses, but XSL is being developed specifically and can therefore make much better use of XML information.

Meadowlark: Just to clarify my understanding.XML and HTML can be used n the same Web page and work side by side because they have different functions, correct?

Charles Goldfarb: It depends on the browser. What is more prevalent is that XML and HTML are used in different stages of the process. That is, the application server might use XML to gather information from data sources from other Websites, and convert the page to HTML to deliver it to the client browser.

Blueyes: How rigid are the confines of the browsers IE or Netscape? Is it necessary to use the newest versions to appreciate XML?

Charles Goldfarb: You need the latest versions in order to process XML on the client's side. Since many users are still at level 3, most sites on the public web will generate HTML from the XML before delivering pages to the client. However, XML can be used for client delivery in intranets and extranets, when you know your partner has the right browser level or suitable plug-in.

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