- Java XML Tutorial
- Java XML Home
- Java XML Overview
- Java XML Parsers
- Java DOM Parser
- Java DOM Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- Java SAX Parser
- Java SAX Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- JDOM XML Parser
- JDOM XML Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- Java StAX Parser
- Java StAX Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- Java XPath Parser
- Java XPath Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- Java DOM4J Parser
- Java DOM4J Parser
- Parse XML Document
- Query XML Document
- Create XML Document
- Modify XML Document
- Java XML Useful Resources
- Java XML - Questions and Answers
- Java XML - Quick Guide
- Java XML - Useful Resources
- Java XML - Discussion
Java XML - Overview
What is XML?
XML is a simple text-based language which was designed to store and transport data in plain text format. It stands for Extensible Markup Language. Following are some of the salient features of XML.
XML is a markup language.
XML is a tag based language like HTML.
XML tags are not predefined like HTML.
You can define your own tags which is why it is called extensible language.
XML tags are designed to be self-descriptive.
XML is W3C Recommendation for data storage and data transfer.
Example
<?xml version = "1.0"?> <Class> <Name>First</Name> <Sections> <Section> <Name>A</Name> <Students> <Student>Rohan</Student> <Student>Mohan</Student> <Student>Sohan</Student> <Student>Lalit</Student> <Student>Vinay</Student> </Students> </Section> <Section> <Name>B</Name> <Students> <Student>Robert</Student> <Student>Julie</Student> <Student>Kalie</Student> <Student>Michael</Student> </Students> </Section> </Sections> </Class>
Advantages
Following are the advantages that XML provides −
Technology agnostic − Being plain text, XML is technology independent. It can be used by any technology for data storage and data transfer purpose.
Human readable − XML uses simple text format. It is human readable and understandable.
Extensible − In XML, custom tags can be created and used very easily.
Allow Validation − Using XSD, DTD and XML structures can be validated easily.
Disadvantages
Following are the disadvantages of using XML −
Redundant Syntax − Normally XML files contain a lot of repetitive terms.
Verbose − Being a verbose language, XML file size increases the transmission and storage costs.