7 Semantics of the XML Specification

The XML specification conforms to the Document Type Definition (DTD) in Figure 7-3. Only types that are included in a specified library are included in the XML.

Figure 7-3. XML DTD

ANNOTATION

The libraries are a part of the standard, and are described using XML. The XML DTD included in this section allows interpretation of the XML form, available online. The standardized libraries are also published in the .NET Framework Standard Library Annotated Reference.

There are three types of elements/attributes:

• Normative: An element or attribute is normative such that the XML specification would be incomplete without it.

• Informative: An element or attribute is informative if it specifies information that helps clarify the XML specification, but without it the specification still stands alone.

• Rendering/Formatting: An element or attribute is for rendering or formatting if it specifies information to help an XML rendering tool.

The text associated with an element or an attribute (e.g., #PCDATA, #CDATA) is, unless explicitly stated otherwise, normative or informative depending on the element or attribute with which it is associated, as described in Figure 7-3.

(Note: Many of the elements and attributes in the DTD are for rendering purposes.)

7.1 Value Types as Objects

Throughout the textual descriptions of methods in the XML, there are places where a parameter of type object or an interface type is expected, but the description refers to passing a value type for that parameter. In these cases, the caller shall box the value type before making the call.