6. XML Outlook
The emergence of any new technology has its own needs and the birth of XML comes after HTML encounters insurmountable difficulties. In recent years, HTML has encountered problems in many complex web applications. To completely solve these problems, powerful XML must be used to replace HTML as a writing tool for web pages. XML is conducive to the expression and structured organization of information, thus making data search more effective; XML can use URL alias to make the maintenance of the web more convenient and make the application of the web more stable; XML can use digital signatures to make the application of the web broader and expand to the security and confidentiality field. It can be considered that the future Web writing tools must be XML. The widespread use of XML will inevitably promote the continuous development of the Web and thus create a new era of Web applications.
Web applications will become more exciting with the use of XML. Here are several foreseeable applications of XML.
(1) XML/EDI electronic data exchange
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) uses electronic technology instead of paper-based operation methods for document exchange between companies. The rich format language of XML can be used to describe different types of documents, such as letters of credit, loan application forms, insurance policies, claims statements, and various invoices. The data sent to the Web by structured XML documents can be encrypted and easily attached with a digital signature. XML's security and confidentiality measures can fully demonstrate its charm in the application of EDI, and XML has the hope to promote large-scale application of EDI.
(2) Chemical markup language CML and mathematical markup language Math ML
CML (chamical Markup Language) and Math ML (Mathematical Markup Language) are markup languages used by XML to describe chemical and mathematical formulas. CML can describe the molecular and crystal structure, the spectral structure of compounds, etc. Math ML is a boon for mathematicians. Since the advent of the Web, mathematicians can use Math ML to accurately display mathematical formulas on their browsers for the first time.
(3) Open software description format OSD
Similar to EDI's fate, the online distribution of software packages has been in the trial stage. OSD (Open Software Descriptionpon is a set of tags in XML used to describe various software products, which can specify the specifications, instructions for use, and run-through platforms.
(4) Channel definition format CDF
Channel definition format CDF (Channel definition format) is an XML data format used by Microsoft in IE 4.0 browser. It is used to describe the content and desktop components of the active channel, and to indicate the information of the channel and its update status. CDF enables interoperability of different platforms, allowing web publishers to control push technology. Dedicated push technology will no longer affect the interoperability of different push technologies, so that the same web content can be obtained from mutually incompatible platforms.
(5) Open financial exchange OFX
OFX (Open Financial Exchange) is also a set of tags in XML, used to describe business transactions between accounting firms and clients. Using OFX, financial data can be exchanged directly between clients and accounting firms, including electronic banking and payment agreements and other documents.
In order to promote the use of XML, W3C has approved the XML standard version 1.0. I believe that the promulgation of XML 1?0 will drive a large number of advanced web applications. Users must consider using XML to write web pages from now on. But the large amount of XML use does not mean that HTML will die immediately. The power of habit is powerful. Just as the Cobol language has not withdrawn from the historical stage for a long time, since a large number of existing web pages are written in HTML, HTML will never be easily withdrawn from use. It can be expected that in the next 5 years, XML will be used side by side with HTML in different fields of web applications.