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What Is RSS, XML and Atom
RSS, XLM, and Atom: What’s the difference?
You are browsing a blog site one day, and then you
saw this orange button that says “RSS”. You then checked a news site, and then
saw an orange button that says “XML”. Then you saw some more sites that have
RSS links. Now, you wonder, what are these things all about?
These things never had to be a mystery. What
follows are basic information regarding RSS, XML and Atom.
What is an XML?
- General Definition
XML stands for Extensive Markup Language. It is the
standard markup language used to define various types of data. It is created to
enable data sharing among various systems patched by the Internet. The language
format is formalized, to allow modification and validation of files regardless
of prior knowledge of the document form.
- XML Features
Before the birth of the XML files sharing files
among different programs and platforms was difficult because of the use of
binary system in encoding.
In an XML file, characters (the fundamental unit)
are sequenced in an allowed serial pattern.
Word processors also made XML maintenance and
authoring easier, since it will be dealing with characters, not bits.
- Uses of XML
1. XML is used to represent a lot of data,
especially lists, records and trees- the basic forms of data structures.
2. It can also be used to communicate human
languages that are written because of the Unicode support.
3. The XML format is also employed in data
processing and storage.
- Pros and Cons
The XML format is a universally accepted format. It
also does not depend on a specific platform for it to execute. It also employs
a hierarchical code structure that is compatible with most of the document
formats.
However, XML is limited by bandwidth. In the case
of PDA and cellular phone technology that uses XML, files are compressed.
Now, what then is RSS?
- General Definition
RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is
a set of web feed formats that use XML to deliver information.
- What are the uses of RSS feeds?
RSS feeds are used to give updates to users
regarding site contents without having to actually check the site. This can be
done by delivering the full content of the update, or by sending a link, or by
defining the metadata that composes the file.
A lot of sites like web logs, pod casts and news
sites use RSS feeds.
- What are the benefits of RSS feeds?
The information that can be seen in RSS feeds is
simpler than the source web site. That is why it is easier for users to view
the important items.
Other files can also be automatically be downloaded
without human intervention. Programs called aggregators can scan web sites and
publish lists of updates in behalf of their user.
- RSS formats
The standard RSS formats are:
1. RSS 1 or RDF which includes the following
versions: RSS 0.90 and 1.0
2. RSS 2 which includes RSS 0.91, 0.92-0.94 and
2.0.1
How about Atom?
Issues were raised regarding the RSS 2.0 format and
its incompatibility problems. That is why a third standard of syndication was
born.
The atom format started in June of 2003. It was
adopted by the Internet Engineering task Force or IETF. This format was made to
solve the shortcomings of the RSS versions that were released.
RFC 4287 states the proposition of Atom’s
standardization.
- Strengths
Atom supporters claim that the strength of Atom
relies on:
1. Use of standard features of XML;
2. The presence of a payload container capable
of handling various content types.
With Atom, owners can actually monitor more sites
in lesser time.
- Uses of Atom
Atom, like any other syndication formats, is used
on sites that update periodically. These items include web logging,
advertisement, marketing, news and bug reports.
- Atom and RSS: What’s the deal?
Atom included features that are not present or
mandatory in RSS such as:
- XML schema
- auto discovery
- XML name space
- unique global ID
- payload container
- separate content and summary entities
- openness to modification and
standardization
Now that you know the
definitions of XML, RSS and Atom, you will never have to wonder why these
things are places in certain websites.
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