4.5 Introduction to CHPS XML
The CHPS configuration files are in XML. XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML is a markup language much like HTML. It does not replace HTML. It was designed to carry (act as a container for) data, not to display data. In other words, XML does not DO anything without software to send, receive, or display it.
The following is an example of an XML file. A browser can be used to view the file, but not to edit XML.
XML Schema
XML is the most common tool for data transmissions between applications. The XML language (itself) has no predefined tags; however, each XML configuration in CHPS adheres to a XML Schema Definition (XSD).
XML Schema Definition (XSD) language is the current standard schema language for all XML documents and data. The XML Schema definition language (XSD) enables programmers to define the structure and data types for XML documents.
XML Advantages
Using XML has several advantages:
- Programmers can create their own tags.
- Widely used, so exchanging information with other agencies and academia is easier.
- No cost to use XML, and there are many free XML authoring tools.
- Code is "human-legible" and reasonably clear.
- Platform and software independent and most browsers and text editors support it.