Media-independent publishing: four myths about XML

Called "the emerging technology of the year" after it was endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), XML burst onto the scene in February. It was called the successor to HTML and, according to some, the future lingua franca for the exchange of structured data. As XML emerged from the obscurity of its W3C beginnings, it was perhaps inevitable that this new data format would begin generating misconceptions as fast as it has attracted enthusiasts. The article heads off four myths about XML before they become permanent misunderstandings: XML is a conspiracy led by Microsoft; XML is an extension of HTML; XML can drive Web browsers by itself; and XML is just for data.