Predicting the Future of XML

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Predicting the future of XML and its effect on HTML is difficult. So far, the uptake of custom XML documents in the public isn't nearly as fast as many of the pundits have suggested, although it has really taken off internally in many organizations. However, even on the Web, XML is starting to catch on, as shown by the uptake of new languages such as WML, SMIL, SVG, and so on. Data interchange languages such as RSS and SOAP have been particularly interesting to watch develop and show that XML has a significant role to play in data interchange.

XML's potential for success should be no surprise. The technology is simple to describe, yet provides the power to create data that can be passed between programs or people without loss of meaning. With its structure, XML will enable Web-based automation, improved search engines, and a host of motivating e-commerce applications. However, before you get too excited, consider that to achieve the dream of an XML-enabled Web, many diverse groups need to get together and agree on data formats.

Just because XML could be used to write a special language to be used to automate data interchange in a particular industry doesn't mean that people will accept it. Remember that XML is based on SGML, and SGML has promised similar benefits during its history. Getting groups to agree upon a common data format and actually use it isn't always feasible , given the competitive nature of business. Anyone can define his or her own XML-based language. McDonald's could define FFML (Fast Food Markup Language). But does this mean that Burger King will accept it as standard? With people defining languages for their own special needs, the chaos of the Web could multiply into a markup Tower of Babel.

One thing is certain: HTML in its present form isn't going away any time soon. Simply too many people are writing HTML documents for it to go away overnight. XHTML is indeed the future, but it won't happen all at once. Like it or not, people and many editors just don't seem to follow the rules with HTML. Furthermore, legacy documents written in old style HTML will continue for some time. Already we see that browsers will support some sort of compatibility mode to deal with old HTML markup. Unfortunately, this has already watered down the effect of XHTML in the short term by not encouraging enough people to move to it.

Never underestimate the simplicity of traditional HTML. It might be ill-defined and misused, but it is commonly known and understood. In some sense, HTML is the English of the Web-often poorly spoken but well understood . Unfortunately, following the language analogy might mean that many XML application languages are the equivalent of Esperanto- the supposed well-defined perfect common language-well-designed but not used. To move the Web from an HTML-centered approach to an XML-centered one will take some time.



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HTML & XHTML
HTML & XHTML: The Complete Reference (Osborne Complete Reference Series)
ISBN: 007222942X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 252
Authors: Thomas Powell

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