Why xml files are used

It doesn't bother with specific attributes, like size or color. It plainly defines the title, headers, text, and other elements of the document and leaves the interpretation to the machine. For a much more thorough explanation, I recommend this introduction to XML. XML has found wide application. Today, various programs and devices use it to handle, structure, store, transmit, and display data.

For example, it's widely used in B2B data exchanges. Since XML stores data in plain text format, the storage is independent of your platform and your data can be exported, imported, or simply moved much more easily. As mentioned above, XML stores data in plain text. That's why you can open XML files with a number of different programs. Generally, right-click the XML file, select Open with from the menu, and choose a program.

You can try any of the programs below:. Note, however, that these programs cannot execute XML because all you can find inside the document is structured data.

XML isn't the internet staple it used to be. Today, JSON is its most popular alternative to integrate data. If you're a programmer, however, you'll still have to work with XML occasionally. Which Raspberry Pi project should you start with? Here's our roundup of the best Raspberry Pi uses and projects around! While completing a PhD, Tina started writing about consumer technology in and never stopped. Now also an editor and SEO, you can find her on Twitter or hiking a nearby trail.

What Are Markup Languages? While plain text represents the data, tags indicate what the data is. Each instance of an XML tag is called an element. In an XML file, elements are arranged in a hierarchy, which means that elements can contain other elements. The beginning and end of each element are represented by a starting tag e. This makes the file easier for humans to read, and does not affect how computers process the code.

Tags are what make XML a markup language. HTML is used to display content on web pages. While you can do a lot with these tags, there is a limited number available. That means there are only so many ways you can structure content on a web page.

Instead, developers can create an unlimited number of custom tags to fit their data needs. This could mean sending this data in a confirmation email or storing it in another database. To summarize: An XML file is a file used to store data in the form of hierarchical elements. Data stored in XML files can be read by computer programs with the help of custom tags, which indicate the type of element. Since XML files are plain text documents, they are easy to create, store, transport, and interpret by computers and humans alike.

This is why XML is one of the most commonly used languages on the internet. Many web-based software applications store information and send information to other apps in XML format. The text-based format of XML files makes them highly portable, and therefore widely used for transferring information between web servers. XML files allow computer apps to easily structure and fetch the data that they need.

After retrieving data from the file, programs can decide what to do with the data. This could mean storing in another database, using it in the program backend, or displaying it on the screen. Additionally, some popular file formats are built with XML.

Consider the Microsoft Office file extensions. Websites and web apps can pull content for their pages from XML files. This makes XML especially applicable to interactive websites and pages whose content changes dynamically.

Depending on the user or screen size, an HTML file can choose to display only certain elements in the XML code, providing visitors with a personalized browsing experience.

Since XML files are text files, you can open them in a few different ways. All modern web browsers allow you to read XML files right in the browser window. Like with the menu example from earlier, you can select an XML file from your device and choose to open it with your web browser.

Here's how a file looks in Google Chrome:. While the appearance of the text will differ by browser, you should be able to easily parse the contents of the file, and you might also be able to hide and reveal specific elements.

Google Chrome will display an error message like the following:. You can use a free online text file editor to view your XML files, change their contents, or convert them to other file formats. In the tool, click Browse to upload a file from your computer. Once uploaded, you can edit the file on the left and view the hierarchy of the XML contents on the right. As with any text file, you can open XML files in any text editor. This makes the files less readable, as seen in the example below.

For Macs, try Xmplify or Eclipse. Alternatively, you can use a simple text editor and apply indentation to your files with a free online XML formatter.

If any of your systems implement XML files, they will almost certainly write all of these files for you. If you want to practice writing your own basic XML files, you can do so in a text editor. Let's walk through how to create an XML file below. The "X" stands for XML. For a Word document, the title would be presented with ".

DOCX" at the end. XML is a markup language, which means it is a computer language that uses tags to describe components in a file. This XML markup language contains actual words instead of programming syntax. Using XML files is advantageous for many reasons including:. XML has multiple uses across a wide range of web pages and applications.

Some common uses of XML include:. Working with XML files is relatively simple, even for a beginner. A couple of different methods for opening an XML file are to open the file and edit with a text editor or to open and view the file with a web browser. The steps for opening an XML file with a text editor include:. However, in Notepad, you can open the XML file, but the formatting may become chaotic and confusing. The steps for opening an XML file to view in a web browser include:.

In today's technologically-advanced society, it is important to understand how to use XML files in the workplace. Users have a couple of different options for opening and viewing XML files, depending on your technology preferences. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. Career Development. What is an XML file?