Confused about XML...

[kj2w]

Hey, I have a very simple question. What exactly is XML and why should I want to use it?

Here is what I understand so far, XML is 'machine-independent' meaning ( i think ) that if I have a cold fusion program spit out xml to a C program, then the C program could read it with ease. Is that somewhat close?

confused,
Jason

[khalidali63]

yes,XML is just another "Fancy text style"
wich follows a standard therefore every computer/os following the same standard can read xml

cheers

Khalid

[Charles]

It's also intended to make the data easy for human's to read. XML is like SGML but with tighter rules. HTML is a type of SGML and XHTML is a type of XML. But it doesn't ensure that your data is universally readable; it's just a step along that way. XML is simply another way of organizing data, just like comma separated fields or key value pairs.

[Robert Wellock]

Happy Fifth Birthday to XML (http://www.w3.org/News/2003#item32) :D.