How XML Works

XML solves several major problems for web developers. Without it, to deliver web pages to different devices such as computers, cell phones, and wireless Palm devices, a developer must create and maintain three separate websites, with special coding for each deviceHTML for the computer, WAP for the cell phone, and what's called web clipping for the wireless Palm devices. It's an expensive, difficult, and time-consuming proposition. And even if a developer is building a site only for computers, every time the design changes, all the pages must be recodedagain, an expensive and time-consuming proposition.

Note

XML is the basis of one of the newest web technologies, Web Services, which allow programs and services to be delivered across the Internet using a web browser. For more information about Web Services, turn to Chapter 25. XML is also frequently used to allow applications, databases, and organizations to exchange information.