XML and HTML are markup languages defined for different purposes and have several differences. HTML was designed to facilitate the transfer of web-based documents or formatted displays of data. While XML is more to the structure and context. XML and HTML complement each other and have different functions. In this article, we will discuss the differences between HTML and XML.
What is HTML
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is used to create web pages and web applications. It is a computer language used to apply layout and formatting conventions to text documents. Markup languages make text more interactive and dynamic. HTML can turn text into images, tables, links, etc.
You need to learn HTML to create your own static website pages with HTML. It is used to display data and not to transport data. Hypertext defines links between web pages. Markup languages are used to define text documents inside tags that define the structure of web pages.
<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title>Welcome to Edureka</title></head><body><h1>Web Development</h1><p>HTML vs XML</p></body></html>
What is XML
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is also used to create web pages and web applications. But it is a dynamic language used to transport data and not to display data. The design goals of XML focus on simplicity, generality, and usability on the Internet.
XML is a textual data format with strong support via Unicode for many human languages. XML design usually focuses on documents. But this language is mostly used for arbitrary representation of data structures like those used in web services.
<?xml version = "1.0"?><contactinfo><address category = "office"><name>eLearning</name><Office>Edureka</Office><empid>112340</empid></address></contactinfo>
Advantages of HTML
HTML Helps you in building a website structure. There are many more advantages such as:
- The HTML document browser interface is easy to create.
- HTML works for unrelated systems too.
- HTML is easy to understand and has a very simple syntax.
- You can use different tags to create your web page.
- This allows you to use different colors, objects and layouts.
Advantages of XML
Some of the Advantages of XML include:
- XML makes documents transportable across systems and applications.
- You can also quickly exchange data between different platforms.
- XML separates data from HTML.
- This simplifies the platform change process.
Lack of HTML
Here, some disadvantages of using HTML:
- HTML lacks syntax and structure checking
- HTML is not suitable for data exchange
- HTML does not allow describing the informational content or semantics of documents
- HTML is not object oriented, so it is not an extensible language and is very unstable
- Data storage and data exchange is not possible using HTML.
Lack of XML
Here, some disadvantages of using XML:
- XML requires processing applications
- The XML syntax is so similar to other alternative 'text-based' data transmission formats that it can sometimes be confusing
- No intrinsic data type support
- Redundant XML syntax
- Does not allow users to create their tags.
The difference between XML and HTML
There are different parameters to compare the differences between HTML and XML. Let's take a look at the list of parameters and the differences between the two languages:
- XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language while HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language.
- XML focuses on transferring data whereas HTML is focused on presenting data.
- XML is content driven whereas HTML is format driven.
- XML is Case Sensitive while XML is Case Insensitive
- XML provides namespaces support while HTML does not provide namespaces support.
- XML is strict for closing tags while HTML is not strict.
- XML tags are extensible whereas HTML has limited tags.
- XML tags are not predefined whereas HTML has predefined tags.
Conclusion
So, that was a complete discussion about the differences between HTML and XML. Hopefully, after reading this article, you can understand the purpose of each HTML and XML created and the differences. Thank you for following us to the end.