What is XML used for?
To know what is XML used for, it is better to know at least a little about its background. XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. The main goal of XML is to give emphasis to Internet simplicity and usability. Technically, XML is a subset of SGML or Standard Generalized Markup Language. XML focuses on creating documents. However, it is also widely used in web services.

On the early introduction of XML, many web developers wonder if there is really a need for them to learn another language. Many who tried XML proved that web developers really do need to learn XML. Web developers found out that XML just do not allow them to create web pages, but it can do much more.

XML is considerably simple, extensive, interoperable, and open. With all these features of XML, it allows websites and services to be future-proof. It means websites and services built in the foundation of XML will still cope up or adapt with new data formats that will emerge in the future. XML is also considered as a universal data format, which means it can transmit and share data between different systems.

It is the Web, which is the primary home of the XML. This is due to its design ‘“ a platform that is uncomplicatedly utilizable over the Internet. However, this will not mean XML dominating the Web revolution. It is not meant to be solely useful on Web services since XML has the capability of uniting various applications. In short, XML has still a long way to run and many applications are seen to work perfectly and smoothly with XML.

So in what ways can XML be used?
XML can be used to design CMS or Content Management System. Using XML as the primary data format in managing your web content will make it easier to administer. This is where the versatility of XML is measured. XML will surely provide trouble-free data formatting and retrieval.

XML is also capable of creating a sitemap, but not just a static sitemap but a dynamic one. With the use XSLT, you can transform an XML-based data, which is currently in existence to fresh formats and change its structure. XSLT stands for Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation and it is an XML based language primarily used in transforming XML documents into other forms of XML documents.

Feeds are very useful for bringing more traffic to a website. XML has the capability to generate of produce XML feeds including RSS or Really Simple Syndication to your website. Generating and serving error-free RSS feeds has never been easier using XML

Moreover, XML helps web developer to setup XML-RPC web services. Since XML is capable of uniting various applications, it can smooth the progress of information transfer between different systems. XML-Remote Procedure Call permits secure execution of functions and queries on isolated servers.

XML also allows a website to access databases and retrieve important information. It can also be used with DOM or Data Object Model in document manipulation.

XML has a lot to offer to web developers. Its versatility allows developers to set up their own standards out of XML’s core standards. With XML’s flexibility and adaptability, incompatibilities are not seen as issues in the future when it comes to integration of different applications and document formats.