What's the point of XML?

[Paddy Notemaker]

Just to be provocative, I thought I might pose the question. I have done a tutorial on xml, but it doesn't seem to do anything. As far as I know, you have to make a program that understands your xml and if you are going to do that, you may as well use javascript, php, java or some other language that describes and contains data without forcing you to make a program to interpret your code. I hava also heard that you can use xml to economize downloads by sending them down in packages. How is that done? Does rss feed work on the same principle? Just a bit of controversy to get you going.
Thanks for your help.

[LiLcRaZyFuZzY]

from http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_whatis.asp
XML does not DO anything

XML was not designed to DO anything.

Maybe it is a little hard to understand, but XML does not DO anything. XML was created to structure, store and to send information.

[Paddy Notemaker]

I still do not understand why everyone loves xml so much because it's just like saying go and make your own tags and your own software to interpret them. If you want to read something with tags, why don't you read html documents or whatever? Personally, I would rather read something without the tags.

PS - I think you have chosen a good site to quote from - I love w3schools and I learnt most of what I know from there. I only wish they would do a decent java tutorial. I know it's not solely web development, but I think the summarised versions of manuals that they put up are great. Thanks for the reply.

[Charles]

Simply put, XML is more machine readable than HTML and more human readable than comma separated values. It's an useful way to structure data and several useful tools are available for it. BUt it doesn't live up to the hype. Anything that you can do with XML you can do with something else.

[LiLcRaZyFuZzY]

it's also used as a mean of communication between different programs