HTML and XML Data Conversion - 3Alpha Outsourcing Services

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HTML and XML Data Conversion

What is HTML and XML?

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and XML (Extensible Markup Language) are both markup languages used in the development of web content.

XML language is markup language designed for web documents. It codes web documents within a strict set of rules that are both readable by humans and machine. XML has become the default for a lot of office productivity tools, including Microsoft Office and Apple’s iWork. The language was designed to be simple, general and user friendly across the Internet and useable with other Unicode programs.

HTML language is designed for web pages. It has been around longer than XML language, and can also be read by both human and machine. HTML elements consist of both an opening and closing tags and content is displayed what is written between the tags. The tags are a description of the page content. HTML is used as the foundation for web content, pictures, videos and links can be embedded into pages using it.

Difference between HTML and XML

Both languages, although, data focused play completely differently roles. HTML focuses on how data is presented, while XML focuses on what data is and how it is stored and transported. XML it is more programmer friendly, allowing for the programmer to invent or define the tags as needed, while HTML is predefined and doesn’t play well with programmers who want to experiment.

HTML’s predefined tags may actually be an advantage when it comes to errors, because it doesn’t lend itself to on-the-spot rewriting as it is error free. On the other hand, XML is not. HTML is also less formal, documents written in HTML don’t necessarily have to be well-formed. Content doesn’t have to be defined. The opening and closing tags do not limit the content and it doesn’t have to be properly nested. XML documents have to be well-formed and the tags are also case sensitive.

The Bottom Line

Despite both languages being used to handle data, they are both used differently and as a result can’t really be compared or have one replace entirely replace the other. HTML will be needed as long as people want web pages designed, and personalized to meet their needs. XML will be needed as long as someone is looking for a way to store and share data around the world.

The bottom line is that XML focuses on data stored and how it is handled and described. HTML focuses on the display and appearance of the data.

Reach out to our team at 3Alpha to ask about how we can help designed your web page or store and share data.