XML: data's universal language

You have probably heard a lot lately about Extensible Markup Language (XML): a new tag based language for describing data. Trade journals and industry magazines devote cover pages to it, and application vendors build in support for it and promote its virtues. The most enthusiastic supporters claim XML will open the door for the next generation of Internet applications. But will XML live up to all the hype? XML is fast becoming the key language for an increasing number of new applications. It is poised to fundamentally alter the way we deliver and use information and to enable the creation of new, powerful applications. It has the potential to shape the future of the Web, among other things. But XML is still a work in progress. Designers and developers are adding new features to it and developing new technologies around it