XML

XML Compared to HTML

XML is structure oriented while HTML is layout oriented.

XML was created in order to describe information and HTML is used to display information.

So basically, XML is data about data, or metadata for the web document. It describes the type of document and what is included within the page. Obviously this is much different than HTML since HTML allows you to choose how to display and design the layout of this information.

Also, in XML you have the ability to create your own tags, unlike HTML where the tags are based on standards and tag dictionaries.

It is said that because XML and HTML are so different, they do not replace each other, rather, they compliment each other.

XML also helps with data sharing: often times computers communicate thru different types of data. When you are using XML, it is basically plain text that is compatible and readable between any type of computer or operating system.