The XML FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions on the Extensible Markup Language

This is the list of Frequently-Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Language (XML). It has answers to most of the common questions people ask about XML. It also provides some information and links for related areas such as HTML, SGML, CGI scripts, PHP, JSP, Java, and databases. The FAQ is intended as a first resource for users, authors, developers, and the interested reader.

The XML FAQ:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/

The XML FAQ v4.1 (2005-01-01) in a single HTML page:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/faq.html


Most popular beginner questions:

What is XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/basics/whatisxml/

How do I control formatting and appearance?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/authors/style/

What's a Document Type Definition (DTD) and where do I get one?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/authors/dtds/

Where can I get an XML browser?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/users/browsers/

What is SGML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/basics/whatissgml/

What are the special characters in XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/authors/specials/

What is a markup language?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/basics/markup/

What is XML for (aka Where should I use XML)?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/basics/whatfor/

What XML software is available?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/software/

I keep hearing about alternatives to DTDs. What's a Schema?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/authors/schemas/

What's a namespace?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/namespaces/

Not the XML FAQ:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/appendix/glossary/


Questions from Developers and Implementors (including WebMasters and server operators):

1. Where's the spec?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/spec

2. What are these terms DTDless, valid, and well-formed?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/validity

3. Which should I use in my DTD, attributes or elements?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/attributes

4. What else has changed between SGML and XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/sgmlchanges

5. What's a namespace?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/namespaces

6. What XML software is available?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/software

7. What's my information? DATA or TEXT?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/docdata

8. Do I have to change any of my server software to work with XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/serversoftware

9. Can I still use server-side inclusions?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/serverincludes

10. Can I (and my authors) still use client-side inclusions?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/clientincludes

11. I'm trying to understand the XML Spec: why does it have such difficult terminology?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/terminology

12. I have to do an overview of XML for my manager/client/investor/advisor. What should I mention?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/management

13. Is there a conformance test suite for XML processors?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/conformance

14. I've already got SGML DTDs: how do I convert them for use with XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/dtdconv

15. How do I include one DTD (or fragment) in another?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/dtdincludes

16. How can I include a conditional statement in my XML?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/conditionals

17. What's the story on XML and EDI?:
http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/edi