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XML is a standard for
building new code "vocabularies". Tags in XML can be custom-defined thus
enabling the generation of domain specific markup languages for diverse fields such as
mathematics, vector graphics, music and technical documentation.
While HTML has been traditionally
addressing global markup needs, XML is now developing into a community specific need-based
application. As XML data is in text form, it is portable across a number of platforms and
environments. The original source document can be displayed on a computer monitor, within
a cellular phone display or translated into voice. The potential of XML formatted data has
enabled various groups to create their own domain specific markup languages or
vocabularies.
By August 2000, the number of XML
business vocabularies listed by the W3C consortium increased to 250. 146 among these are
industry applications called verticals, 95 of them address common operations that apply to
a number of industries and the rest are the frameworks or structured XML documents that
can be used both within and between industries. These entries include vocabularies for the
exchange of scientific data, finance sectors and even single company vocabularies. This
proliferation in vocabularies compelled the W3C to consolidate vocabularies in similar
fields and enforce one version as a cohesive standard in that particular field.
Rendering languages are XML-based
languages that transform and represent content in audible and visual form, thus making
them more accessible to users. HTML was a de facto rendering language until the advent of
XML. XHTML is XML - based HTML that forms a bridge for web designers between the future
browser and today's HTML browser. XHTML browsers can provide richer and dynamic content on
an increasing range of browser platforms including cell phones, televisions, cars,
wireless communicators and desktop monitors.
XSL or eXtensible Style Sheet Language
expresses how structured data can be presented in any computing device and is itself an
XML application. XSLT or XSL transformation language is used to transform XML-formatted
data to other formats, while Xlink offers advanced hyper linking semantics. XML Schema
predefines documents at both the output and input ends. They are used to define and
describe XML vocabularies.
For each domain specific language, XML
provides the basic structure upon which auxiliary semantics and syntax are added.
Wireless Markup Language or WML is a
wireless language that is designed to work in low bandwidth, small display devices and
conforms to WAP or Wireless Access Protocol used in mobile internet telephony. Multiple
screens that can be downloaded in the form of a deck of cards in a single retrieval
eliminate excessive transactions with the server.
Voice XML is used by voice browsers that
interpret XML documents and transform them into voice over both land phones and mobile
phones. The voice XML interpreter recognizes and synthesizes data into voice, heralding an
era where man and machine actually talk to each other. Cumbersome form filling on wireless
devices can now be done verbally.
SVG or Scalable vector graphics is a
markup language for describing 2-D graphic in XML. Vector graphic shapes like straight
lines and curves, images and texts can be grouped, styled and transformed resulting in
interactive and dynamic graphics that download faster and on a wider range of devices.
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