Java XML - Overview

What is XML?

XML is a simple text-based language which was designed to store and transport data in plain text format. It stands for Extensible Markup Language. Following are some of the sapent features of XML.

XML is a markup language.

XML is a tag based language pke HTML.

XML tags are not predefined pke HTML.

You can define your own tags which is why it is called extensible language.

XML tags are designed to be self-descriptive.

XML is W3C Recommendation for data storage and data transfer.

Example

<?xml version = "1.0"?>
<Class>
   <Name>First</Name>
   <Sections>
      <Section>
         <Name>A</Name>
         <Students>
            <Student>Rohan</Student>
            <Student>Mohan</Student>
            <Student>Sohan</Student>
            <Student>Lapt</Student>
            <Student>Vinay</Student>
         </Students>
      </Section>
      
      <Section>
         <Name>B</Name>
         <Students>
            <Student>Robert</Student>
            <Student>Jupe</Student>
            <Student>Kape</Student>
            <Student>Michael</Student>
         </Students>
      </Section>
   </Sections>
</Class>

Advantages

Following are the advantages that XML provides −

Technology agnostic − Being plain text, XML is technology independent. It can be used by any technology for data storage and data transfer purpose.

Human readable − XML uses simple text format. It is human readable and understandable.

Extensible − In XML, custom tags can be created and used very easily.

Allow Vapdation − Using XSD, DTD and XML structures can be vapdated easily.

Disadvantages

Following are the disadvantages of using XML −

Redundant Syntax − Normally XML files contain a lot of repetitive terms.

Verbose − Being a verbose language, XML file size increases the transmission and storage costs.