Extensible Markup Language (XML)

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. XML's design goals emphasize simplicity, generality, and usability across the Internet. It is a text-based format that uses a tree-like structure, making it highly versatile for representing various types of structured information. Unlike HTML, XML is not predefined; users can define their own tags and document structure, providing immense flexibility for data representation.

Use Case

Imagine a complex supply chain involving multiple independent businesses, each using different software systems for their internal operations (e.g., inventory management, order processing, shipping). To ensure seamless communication and data exchange between these disparate systems, an XML-based approach can be highly effective.

When a manufacturer needs to place an order for raw materials from a supplier, instead of relying on manual data entry or proprietary data formats, the manufacturer's system can generate an XML document containing all the necessary order details. This XML document would include elements like <OrderID>, <PartNumber>, <Quantity>, <DeliveryDate>, and <ShippingAddress>, all structured according to a pre-agreed XML schema (e.g., an industry standard like ebXML or a custom-defined one).

This XML order document is then transmitted to the supplier's system. Because XML is self-describing and uses a standardized parsing mechanism, the supplier's system can easily read, validate, and process the incoming order data, regardless of the underlying programming language or database used. The supplier's system can then generate an XML-formatted acknowledgment, an invoice, or a shipping notification, which can be sent back to the manufacturer, again ensuring interoperability.