So what is XML? It’s a markup language, used to describe the structure of data in meaningful ways. Anywhere that data is input/output, stored, or transmitted from one place to another, is a potential fit for XML’s capabilities. Perhaps the most well-known applications are web-related (especially with the latest developments in handheld web access—for which some of the technology is XML-based). However, there are many other non-web-based applications for which XML is useful – for example, as a replacement for (or to complement) traditional databases, or for the transfer of financial information between businesses. News organizations, along with individuals, have also been using XML to distribute syndicated news stories and blog entries.

Have you ever wondered how to get started writing your own schema? As you prepare to create your schema, you must consider a number of factors. This guide explains each of those factors in detail and recommends an approach for documenting your schema development plan in an information model.

XQuery delivers a carefully paced tutorial that goes into the final 1.0 standard in detail. The book delves into critical advanced issues such as data typing and designing efficient query logic. Whether you’re coming from SQL, XSLT, or starting from scratch, you’ll learn about XQuery’s support for filtering, sorting, and grouping data, as well as how to use FLWR expressions, XPath, and XQuery tools for extracting and combining information.

A perennial bestseller, the handy XML Pocket Reference from O’Reilly has been revised once again to give you quick access to the latest goods. In addition to its comprehensive look at XML, this third edition has been updated with new material on Namespaces and XML Schema. If you need XML answers quick and on the fly, this compact book is most definitely the book for you.

Covers all the most recent XML core and related specifications including XML 1.1, J2EE 1.4, Microsoft .NET’s latest iteration, as well as open source XML items from the Apache project. Strong coverage of XML use with databases, transactions, and XML security. Discusses both Microsoft (.NET) and Sun (Java) programming integration with XML, an approach not taken in any other book. Presents extensive business examples, including several major applications developed throughout the book. No previous exposure to XML is assumed.

Referring to specific information inside an XML document is a little like finding a needle in a haystack. XPath and XPointer are two closely related languages that play a key role in XML processing by allowing developers to find these needles and manipulate embedded information. By the time you’ve finished XPath and XPointer, you’ll know how to construct a full XPointer (one that uses an XPath location path to address document content) and completely understand both the XPath and XPointer features it uses.