For those seeking a document format that makes data exchange on the Web easy, then it’s time to explore XML, or Extensible Markup Language. Computer software of all kinds already use XML for data organization and presentation.

It’s the great flexibility of XML that makes it so appealing to web developers. Due the structure of the markup language, data exchange is possible in many different forms. Data access within XML is easier, as well, than it is with it’s sister markup language, HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language. Consider this: XML programming can tailor the look of one web page for either a mobile phone or a classic computer browser. Developers then could make one page instead of two. XML’s efficiency is probably becoming more clear!

Those who want to learn more about XML are well served by prior experience with HTML, though it isn’t necessary to become proficient. The two can work well hand-in-hand, since they both descend from the same parent language, SGML. Markup languages’ purpose is organize, categorize, or otherwise label content, and the markup itself describes the organization in question. Another way of looking at it is that markup contains the content, which is what you are looking at when you see an XML page rendered.

The need for XML emerged when the limitations of HTML became clear. HTML does not allow for new markup elements to be devised by users. With a need for greater flexibility, XML evolved to meet the needs of document and data handling in a web environment.

This is just a primer for understanding what XML is, and why it might be useful for you. For those who wish to make the most of web development, it’s a great idea to put learning XML on your list of things to do.