About XML

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. As the name suggests, XML is a markup language. The XML specification was created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the body that sets standards for the web.

Features/Benefits of XML
XML has been widely adopted since its creation and with good reason. Some of the key features and benefits of XML include:
Easy data exchange - One of the great things about XML is that it can allow easy sharing of data between different applications - even if these applications are written in different languages and reside on different platforms.

Self-describing data - When you look at an XML document, it is very easy to figure out what's going on.

Create your own languages - XML allows you to specify your own markup language for your own specific purpose. Some existing XML based languages include Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS), Bank Internet Payment System (BIPS), Financial Exchange (IFX) and many more.

What Does XML Look Like?
The following example demonstrates what the contents of a typical XML document could look like.