What is XML?
XML or Extensible Markup Language that is much like an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). According to our all-around friend, Wikipedia online dictionary, XML is “a general-purpose specification for creating custom markup languages. It is classified as an extensible language, because it allows the user to define the mark-up elements”
Simple definition
Too technical to understand, here’s a simpler way to define XML, it is designed to transport and store data, and which tags are not predefined, meaning, you must define your own tags.
I’ve mentioned that XML is much like HTML, now how does it differ from HTML. XML is designed to carry and store data, focusing on what data is. As for HTML, it is designed to display data, this one focusing on how the data looks.
What does XML look like
What does a typical XML document look like? See the example below of a document written in XML:
<breakfast_menu>
<food>
<name>Pancake</name>
<price>$0.50</price>
</food>
<food>
<name>Ham and Bacon Sandwich</name>
<price>$0.75</price>
</food>
</breakfast_menu>
Based on the example above, it is self-descriptive. It shows a breakfast menu with the list of food that are under the breakfast menu. Each food has a defined name and price, all of which has been defined by the programmer.
So XML is not specified by semantics of tag set, it’s just a plain text. It only provides a custom to define tags and the relationships of these tags. Only XML-aware softwares can handle and understand the meaning of XML tags wherein, the function depends on the nature of the software.
XML’s creation has helped many developers, it’s the most essential tool by far when it comes to data transmission between various softwares.
XML Software
There are a lot of XML Editors on the web you can use, here are some of the best ones:
2. oXygen XML
3. EditiX – Xml Editor
4. Emile Lite
5. Microsoft XML Notepad
6. XML CookTop
Until next time 
Peter – Your XMLSpy Guiode
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