XML

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a markup language designed to store and transport data. It's a human-readable and machine-readable format, utilizing tags to define elements and attributes that structure information. XML's flexibility makes it widely used for configuration files, data interchange between systems, and documents. It adheres to specific rules for well-formedness, ensuring that data is consistently structured and can be easily parsed by different applications. XML supports various character encodings, ensuring compatibility across different platforms and languages.

XML meaning with examples

• Example 1: A web service uses XML to transmit product data, including name, price, and description, facilitating seamless communication between the service and client applications. The structured XML format ensures easy parsing and interpretation.
• Example 2: Software configuration files often use XML to store settings such as database connection strings, port numbers, and UI preferences, allowing simple modification and version control. These are easily edited using text editors.
• Example 3: Many document formats like DOCX (Microsoft Word) are essentially XML files, representing content, formatting, and metadata, simplifying data exchange. The documents rely on the XML structure for consistent output.
• Example 4: E-commerce platforms employ XML to exchange order details, including customer information, product quantities, and shipping addresses, ensuring secure and structured data transmission. Secure encryption often accompanies this data.
• Example 5: Databases sometimes use XML to export data. Each field's data will correspond to an XML element and attributes, allowing import into other systems or analysis tools. The structure facilitates effective retrieval.