Chapter One
What Is XML?
This chapter provides a brief summary of what XML is. The abbreviation "XML" refers to
eXtensible Markup Language, which means that XML is extensible or changeable. HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language), on the contrary, is a non extensible language and is the default
language that sits behind many of the web pages in your web browser, along with numerous other
languages.
HTML does not allow changes to web pages. HTML web pages are effectively frozen in time when
they are built and cannot be changed when viewed in a browser.
Internet Explorer and Netscape are browsers used for viewing websites on the Internet.
XML, on the other hand, allows generation of web pages on the fly. XML allows storage of changeable
data into web pages that can be altered at any time besides runtime. XML pages can also be
tailored in look, feel ...
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