In the real world, computer systems and databases contain data in
incompatible formats. One of the most time consuming challenges for developers has been to
exchange data between such systems over the Internet.
Converting the data to XML can greatly reduce this complexity and create data that can be read by many different types of applications.
XML and B2B
With XML, financial information can be exchanged over the Internet.
Expect to see a lot about XML and B2B (Business To Business) in the near future.
XML is going to be the main language for exchanging financial information between businesses over the Internet. A lot of interesting B2B applications are under development.
XML can be used to Share Data
With XML, plain text files can be used to share data.
Since XML data is stored in plain text format, XML provides a software and hardware independent way of sharing data.This makes it much easier to create data that different applications can work with. It also makes it easier to expand or upgrade a system to new operating systems, servers, applications, and new browsers.
XML can be used to Store Data
With XML, plain text files can be used to store data. XML can also be used to store data in files or in databases.Applications can be written to store and retrieve information from the store, and generic applications can be used to display the data.
XML can make your Data more Useful
With XML, your data is available to more users.
Since XML is independent of hardware, software and application, you can make your data available to more than only standard HTML browsers.
Other clients and applications can access your XML files as data sources, like they are accessing databases. Your data can be made available to all kinds of "reading machines" (agents), and it is easier to make your data available for blind people, or people with other disabilities.
XML can be used to Create new Languages
XML is the mother of WAP and WML.
The Wireless Markup Language (WML), used to markup Internet application for handheld devices like mobile phones, is written in XML.