Question

What are the differences between the use of tags in XML versus HTML?

Short answer

The key differences between the use of tags in XML and HTML include: HTML uses predefined tags while XML allows custom tags, XML requires closing tags but HTML does not for every element, XML is case sensitive while HTML is not, and XML is typically used for data transportation while HTML is for displaying information.

Step-by-step solution

Define the Use of Tags in HTML

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is a standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications. It uses pre-defined tags, like , , ,

Define the Use of Tags in XML

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. Unlike HTML which uses pre-defined tags, XML allows users to define their own tags, making it more flexible. XML tags are case sensitive and every starting tag must have a corresponding closing tag. It is typically used for data transportation.

Identify the Differences Between XML and HTML tags

Comparing the two, several differences arise. HTML uses pre-defined tags while XML allows for custom tags. Additionally, XML is case sensitive and requires closing tags for all elements but HTML is not case sensitive and doesn't require closing tags for all elements. XML primarily focuses on data transportation while HTML is about displaying information.

Key concepts

HTML Markup Language

HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language and is the cornerstone of web page creation. It's a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, color, graphic, and hyperlink effects on web pages. Think of HTML tags as the building blocks of web pages. They tell web browsers how to structure and display content on the screen.

For example, when you see a paragraph on a website, it's likely encapsulated within the

tag, indicating to the browser that this is a block of text. HTML is known for its simplicity and ease of use, which comes from its limited set of predefined tags, each having a specific purpose. This simplicity allows students and developers alike to learn and apply HTML quickly.

However, it's also important to recognize that HTML is case insensitive—meaning tags can be written in uppercase, lowercase, or a mix of both and they would function the same way. This attribute makes it quite forgiving for beginners as they code.

XML Custom Tags

XML, which stands for eXtensible Markup Language, differs markedly from HTML in its approach to tags. XML does not use a predefined tag set. Instead, it allows you to create your own custom tags. This extensibility means that you can structure your data in a way that makes the most sense for your specific application or business needs.

For instance, a book database could use tags like , , and to represent the structure of its data. By creating these custom tags, XML provides a way to describe the content rather than defining how that content should be displayed, which is the focus of HTML. XML's flexibility in creating a self-descriptive language makes it invaluable for sharing structured data across different information systems, particularly on the internet.

Data Transportation

Data transportation is one of the primary uses of XML. Since XML allows the definition of custom tags, it can easily describe the structure of data, including various types of information such as customer data, transactions, and configuration settings.

XML data is stored in plain text format which provides a software- and hardware-independent way of storing data. This makes it easy to create data that can be read and processed by any application, regardless of platform. For example, data exported from one application can be transferred as an XML file, which can then be imported into another application with ease. The self-descriptive nature of XML makes it a perfect candidate for this job, as the data's meaning is clear from the tags, regardless of the system using it.

Case Sensitivity in Markup Languages

Case sensitivity is an important concept to understand when working with markup languages. In HTML, tags and attributes can be written in either uppercase or lowercase without affecting the functionality—