EXTENSIBLE MARKUP LANGUAGE

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language much like HTML. It was designed to carry data, not to display data. It is classified as an extensible language because it allows its users to define their own elements. XML language has no predefined tags. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of structured data across different information systems, particularly via the Internet. In other words, we can say that XML is a software and hardware independent tool for carrying information.

Difference between XML and HTML

XML is not a replacement for HTML.XML and HTML were designed with different goals:

• XML was designed to transport and store data, with focus on what data is.HTML was designed to display data, with focus on how data looks.
• HTML is about displaying information, while XML is about carrying information.