6. XML Outlook
The emergence of any new technology has its demand background. The birth of XML was after HTML encountered 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 the writing tool for Web pages. XML is conducive to the expression and structured organization of information, thereby making data search more effective; XML can use URL aliases to make the maintenance of the Web more convenient and make Web applications more stable; XML can use digital signatures to expand the application of the Web more broadly. to the field of security and confidentiality. It can be considered that the future Web writing tool must be XML. The widespread use of XML will inevitably promote the continuous development of the Web, thus creating a new era of Web applications.
Web applications will become more exciting with the use of XML. The following are several foreseeable applications of XML.
(1) XML/EDI electronic data interchange
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) uses electronic technology to replace paper-based operations for document exchange between companies. XML's rich format language can be used to describe different types of documents, such as letters of credit, loan application forms, insurance policies, claim forms, and various invoices. Structured XML documents sent to the Web can be encrypted and digitally signed easily. The security and confidentiality measures of XML can fully demonstrate its charm in the application of EDI. XML is expected to promote the large-scale application of EDI.
(2) Chemical markup language CML and mathematics markup language Math ML
CML (chamical Markup Language) and Math ML (Mathematical Markup Language) are XML markup languages used to describe chemical and mathematical formulas. CML can describe molecular and crystal structures, spectral structures of compounds, etc. Math ML is good news for mathematicians. For the first time since the advent of the Web, mathematicians can use Math ML to accurately display mathematical formulas on the browser.
(3) Open Software Description Format OSD
Similar to the fate of EDI, the online distribution of software packages has been in the trial stage. OSD (Open Software Descriptipon) is a set of XML tags used to describe various software products. It can detail the software specifications, usage instructions, and executable platforms.
(4) Channel definition format CDF
Channel definition format CDF (Channel definition format) is an XML data format used by Microsoft in the IE 4.0 browser. It is used to describe the content and desktop components of active channels, indicating channel information and its update status. CDF makes interoperability between different platforms possible and allows Web publishers to control push technology. Dedicated push technologies 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 tag set of XML, used to describe business transactions between accounting firms and customers. Using OFX, financial data, including documentation such as electronic banking and payment agreements, can be exchanged directly between clients and accounting firms.
In order to promote the use of XML, W3C has approved version 1.0 of the XML standard. It is believed 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 widespread use of XML does not mean that HTML will die soon. The force of habit is powerful. Just as the Cobol language has not withdrawn from the stage of history 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 five years, XML and HTML will be used hand in hand in different fields of Web applications.