Real-World XML
Hopefully by now I’ve given you some understanding of the reasons XML came into
being, as well as an idea of how it will likely fit in with HTML as the future of the Web
unfolds. What I haven’t explained yet is how XML is impacting the real world with new
markup languages. Fortunately, a lot of work has been done to make XML a technology
that you can put to work immediately, and there are numerous XML-related
technologies that are being introduced as I write this. Following is a list of some of the
major XML-based languages that are supported either on the Web or in major third party
applications, along with the kinds of information they represent:
WML—Web pages for mobile devices
• XMLNews—news stories
• CDF—Web channels
• OSD—descriptions of software
• OFX—financial information (electronic funds transfer, for example)
• RDF—descriptions of information in Web pages (helps to aid search engines)
• MathML—mathematical equations
• P3P—Web privacy policies
• RELML—real estate listings
• HRMML—human resource information (resumes, for example)
• VoxML—voice response scripts (“Press 1 for this, press 2 for that,” for example)
• VML—vector graphics
• SVG—vector graphics
• SMIL—multimedia presentations
• 3DML—three-dimensional virtual worlds
As you can see, XML people love acronyms! And as the brief descriptions of each language
suggest, these XML languages are as varied as their acronyms. A few of these languages
are supported in the latest Web browsers, and the remaining languages have
special applications that can be used to create and share data in each respective format.
To give you an idea regarding how these languages are impacting the real world, consider
the fact that the major job-posting Web sites (HotJobs.com, Hire.com, etc.) are
incorporating HRMML (Human Resource Management Markup Language) into their
systems. Additionally, Microsoft and Intuit are investing heavily in OFX (Open Financial
eXchange) as the future of electronic financial transactions. As of this writing, OFX is
supported by over 1,300 banks and brokerages, in addition to payroll-processing companies.
In other words, your paycheck may already depend on XML!
I could go on and on about how different XML languages are infiltrating the real world,
but I think you get the idea. You’ll get to know several of the languages listed throughout
the remainder of the book. More specifically, Hour 21, “Going Wireless with WML,”
shows you how to code Web pages for mobile devices, while Part VI, “A Few Interesting
XML Languages,” shows you how to use the SVG, SMIL, and 3DML languages.
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