1. XML (eXtensible Markup Language)
Definition:
XML is a markup language designed for storing, organizing, and transporting data in a structured and self-descriptive format. Unlike HTML, XML focuses on data, not on how the data looks.
Key Features:
* Tags are user-defined and describe the data (e.g., <book> or <author>).
* Documents must be well-formed (e.g., tags must be closed and nested properly).
* Does not have predefined tags like HTML does.
* XML is platform-independent and used for data exchange between systems.
* Data is structured hierarchically.
Usage:
* Data exchange between systems.
* Configuration files (e.g., Android Manifest, web.config).
Example:
```
<library>
<book>
<title>XML Fundamentals</title>
<author>Jane Doe</author>
<price>25.99</price>
</book>
<book>
<title>Advanced XML</title>
<author>John Smith</author>
<price>35.99</price>
</book>
</library>
```
2. XHTML (eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language)
Definition:
XHTML is a stricter and XML-compatible version of HTML. It enforces XML rules while maintaining the purpose of HTML.
It is used for stricter, XML-based version of HTML.
Key Features:
* Combines the syntax rules of XML with the functionality of HTML.
* Tags must be properly nested and closed.
* All attribute names must be in lowercase, and attribute values must be quoted (e.g., <`img src="image.jpg" /`>).
* Documents must be well-formed and valid.
Usage:
* Web development, where strict adherence to standards is required.
* Interoperable with XML-based systems.
Advantages:
* Greater compatibility with XML tools.
* Easier to parse programmatically.
Example:
```
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title>My XHTML Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to XHTML</h1>
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Sample Image" />
<p>This is a paragraph written in XHTML.</p>
</body>
</html>
```
Explanation:
* Tags must be properly closed (e.g., <`img /`>).
* Attribute names must be in lowercase, and values must be quoted (e.g., alt="Sample Image").
* Conforms to XML rules, ensuring well-formed documents.
3. HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
Definition:
HTML is the standard markup language for creating the structure and content of web pages. It provides predefined tags for displaying elements like text, images, links, and multimedia content.
Key Features:
* Focuses on the presentation of content on the web.
* Tags such as <`h1`>, <`p`>, <`div`>, and <`img`> define the structure and layout of a webpage.
* Syntax is flexible, and browsers can handle unclosed or improperly nested tags.
* Often used with CSS (for styling) and JavaScript (for interactivity).
Usage:
* Creating websites and web applications.
* Works seamlessly with CSS and JavaScript for presentation and interactivity.
Example:
```
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My HTML Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to HTML</h1>
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Sample Image">
<p>This is a paragraph written in HTML.</p>
</body>
</html>
```
Explanation:
* Tags like <`img`> don’t require explicit closing.
* Syntax is more forgiving; browsers can handle errors like unclosed tags.
* Does not enforce lowercase attribute names or quotation marks.
**Conclusion**
XML, HTML, and XHTML each serve distinct purposes in the world of markup languages, catering to different needs:
**XML** is designed for storing, organizing, and transporting data in a structured format. It emphasizes strict rules and user-defined tags, making it ideal for data exchange between systems.
**HTML** focuses on creating and presenting content for web pages. It is flexible and forgiving, prioritizing ease of use and visual rendering in browsers.
**XHTML**, as a bridge between XML and HTML, combines the flexibility of HTML with the rigor of XML, ensuring well-formed and standardized web content suitable for modern web applications.
In summary, XML is best suited for data handling, HTML excels in web design, and XHTML enforces stricter standards for web development while maintaining compatibility with XML-based tools. Choosing the right language depends on the specific requirements of the task, such as whether the focus is on data exchange, web content creation, or strict adherence to standards.
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