Alright. I have tried to read up on XML but I quickly loose interest with techno mumbo jumbo. I don't want the life story of web developers, html or where the web is heading. I just want to know what is so special about XML 😕

Can someone please explain in plain simple english what the differences are and how it can help me.

I read that XHTML was made for the transitition between HTML and XML, yet all I see XHTML doing is adding escaping slashes to everything :bemused:

HTML, CSS, DHTML, XHTML, XML, ASP, PHP, JavaScript *screams :glare:

    1. XHTML Has stricter formatting rules than does HTML which in turn makes it easier for browsers and validators to flag errors. Most HTML browsers tend to ignore errors which often result in incompatible rendering between browsers.

    2. XHTML is XML which means that one can take advantage of some of the XML capabilities. In particular, you can mix XHTML with other languages (such as Scalable Vector Graphics SVG) and be reasonable certain your content will render properly.

    Thats about as simple as I can get without going into more technical details. XHTML makes it easier to trouble shoot pages and allows one to take advantage of more advanced browser features. Of course, IE 6.x still does not directly support XHTML. Even 7.x will probably not support it. You will have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.

      Thanks for your reply mate!

      Alright so what are some of the "XML capabilities"?

      What is XML for? does it replace HTML? is it just for display web pages?

        XML is hard to understand because you don't really see it. XML is not a replacement for HTML. It is an addition. It is a way to transfer information through the web from one server to another. The huge advantage for this is that any server/app can talk to any other type of server/app as long as they follow the XML rules.

        If you want to understand XML you should try to both connect to an existing web service and create your own web service. You do this and XML will become much clearer.

          Thanks for the links Elizabeth!

          I was laughing through the first page 😃 Why?

          XML does not DO anything
          XML was not designed to DO anything.

          AND

          XML Joke
          Question: When should I use XML?

          Answer: When you need a buzzword in your resume.

          Seriously, it does seem somewhat useful.

          This page gives the scoop - http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_usedfor.asp

          Although I lack the knowledge to make use of it just yet I think 🙁

          XML can be used to Create new Languages
          XML is the mother of WAP and WML.

          The Wireless Markup Language (WML), used to markup Internet applications for handheld devices like mobile phones, is written in XML.

          Now I found a use for it. Yet another language to learn! I should have learnt PHP last year and JavaScript two years ago. *slaps self now

          I'm EXCITED!!! 😃

            2 months later

            Originally posted by NetNerd85
            Alright so what are some of the "XML capabilities"?

            None. XML on its own doesn't do anything but provide a common syntax for other languages (of which XHTML, XSL, SVG and MathML are examples).

            But since they do all use the same syntax, then as ahundiak said, bits from different languages can be merged. For example, the following chunk of XHTML has a chunk of MathML embedded within it:

            <p>Below is the Black-Scholes Equation, used for pricing
derivatives. Its creators were honoured with the Nobel Prize in
Economics in 1997. Following the equation is an excerpt from the
Commendation Letter (<a href="http://www.nobel.se/economics/laureates/1997/back.html">original</a>).</p>

<p><math mode="display" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
<mi>C</mi>
<mo>=</mo><mi>SN</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>-</mo><mi>L</mi><msup><mi>e</mi> <mrow><mo rspace="0em" lspace="thinthinmathspace">-</mo>
<mi>rt</mi></mrow></msup><mi>N</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>-</mo><mi>?</mi><msqrt><mrow><mi>t</mi>
</mrow></msqrt><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo>
</math></p>

<p>where the variable <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
<mi>d</mi>

</math> is defined by:</p>

<p><math mode="display" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
<mi>d</mi>
<mo>=</mo><mfrac><mrow><mo rspace="thinmathspace" lspace="0em">ln</mo>
<mfrac><mrow><mi>S</mi>
</mrow><mrow><mi>L</mi>
</mrow></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo>
<mi>r</mi><mo>+</mo><mfrac><mrow><msup><mi>?</mi> <mn>2</mn></msup>
</mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn>
</mrow></mfrac><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>?</mi>
<msqrt><mrow><mi>t</mi>
</mrow></msqrt></mrow></mfrac><mo>.</mo>
</math></p>

            Which rendered for me in Firefox as the attached image file. If you want to see the page in real life, the URL is http://pear.math.pitt.edu/mathzilla/Examples/mow1.mhtml

            Has XML changed much or at all since 00/01? 😕

            http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xml-20040204/

              Thanks for the info. I was mainly just wondering because a lot of books on XML are not recent. They range from 2000 - 2004. Would using a earlier book steer me in the wrong direction?

              The XML sections of the book shops around here are... well scarce to say the least and VERY expensive.

                Well just extending on XHTML, XHTML is suppose to be defining presentational elements but shouldnt describe how the elements are to be displayed.

                Now think of it this way, if you were to create an XML document without a XSL Stylesheet or CSS you would just see the information, XHTML is the same if you saved it as an xml or in Firefox (not sure on other browsers) as an .xhtml file it will show the presentation elements being defined however like the XML display it doesnt show how the data is meant to be shown (of course for this to work the XHTML has to be well formed, this doesnt mean it has to have valid Elements e.g. h1, h2)

                To describe how the Data is to be displayed for XHTML your suppse to use CSS, its why things like font tag isnt a valid element in XHTML Strict, and future versions of XHTML will take away these describing elements.

                Ok well in terms of books a amazon search and reading user comments is a good way to firstly see what books there are and user impressions, most books also give you a quick glance which is an invaluable option so you can read little bits and see if the book is for you.

                In terms of Learning XML it isnt hard to learn infact if you know XHTML your well on your way with XML its just that XML has a lot meta languages in the family one which Weedpacket has already pointed out, just to name a few

                XSL/XSLT
                XPATH
                WML - (You will need some sort of WAP Viewer)
                SVG - (Most of the up to date browsers not IE will support this however support is still a little scratchy)
                XForms (which Im yet to really see take off considering the hype it got)
                RSS

                There was also one based for 3D display however Ive forgotten the name of it, it looked quite impressive.

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