Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 20. Processing XML
Introduction
The Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is a portable, human-readable format for ex-
changing text or data between programs. XML is derived from the parent standard SGML, as
is the HTML language used on web pages worldwide. XML, then, is HTML's younger but
more capable sibling. And because most developers know at least a bit of HTML, parts of
this discussion compare XML with HTML. XML's lesser-known grandparent is IBM's GML
(General Markup Language), and one of its cousins is Adobe FrameMaker's Maker Inter-
change Format (MIF).
Figure 20-1
depicts the family tree.
