UNIT – V

Q: Define XML?

Ans: X M L s ta n d s f o r “ E xten s ib le M a rk up L a n g u a g e” . X M L is a tex t-b a s ed m a rk u p

la n g u a g e . A m a rk u p la n g u a g e is a s e t o f in s tru c tio n s o fte n c a lle d a s ta g s w h ic h c a n b e
a d d ed to te xt f ile s . W h e n th e f ile is p ro c es s e d b y a s u ita b le a p p lic a tio n th e ta g s a re u s e d
to c o n tro l th e s tru c tu re a n d p res e n ta tio n o f d a ta c o nta in ed in th e file . M o s t c o m m o n ly
ta g s a re u s ed b y a p p lic a tio n w h en p res e n tin g d a ta . X M L is n o thin g s p e c ia l, it is ju s t a
p la in te xt. S o ftw a re th a t c a n h a n d le p la in tex t c a n a ls o h a n d le X M L. X M L is a
s o f tw a re/ h a rd w a re in d ep en d e n t to o l f o r c a rryin g in fo rm a tio n .

(O R )

X M L is a m a rk u p la n g u ag e s im ila r to H T M L, b u t w ith o u t p re d e fin ed ta g s to u s e. In s te a d ,

yo u d efin e yo u r o w n ta g s d e s ig n ed s p e c ific a lly f o r yo u r n e ed s . T h is is a p o w e rfu l w a y to
s to re d a ta in a fo rm a t th a t c a n b e s to re d , s e arc h ed , a n d s h a re d .

Q: Brifely explain about XML over HTML?

Ans: X M L is m o re th a n H T M L b ec a u s e, H T M L o n ly d ea ls w ith p res e n ta tio n a n d c a rries n o

in fo rm a tio n a b o u t th e d a ta , w h erea s X M L d ea ls w ith th e re p res e n ta tio n o f d a ta a n d
c a rries in fo rm a tio n a b o u t th e d a ta . In X M L, w e c re a te o u r o w n ta g s a n d a ls o s yn ta x fo r
th o s e tag s th a t c a n le t th e d o c u m en t s tru c tu re fo llo w th e d a ta s tru c tu re. A s w e a re
d e fin in g o u r o w n ta g s a n d th ere a re n o p re d e fin ed ta g s , X M L is d e fin ed to b e
“ s elf-d e s c rip tiv e” . U s in g s c rip tin g la n g u ag es lik e ja va s c rip t w e c a n rea c h to va rio u s
ele m e n ts o f a n x m l p a g e a n d m a k e u s e o f d a ta . W h e n c o m p a re d w ith H T M L , X M L
p ro vid e s a w ay o f s tru c tu rin g th e d a ta a n d s to re d a ta w ith fo c u s o n “ W h a t d a ta is ” ,
w h ere H T M L w a s d es ig n e d to d is p la y d a ta w ith fo c u s o n “ H o w d a ta lo o k s ” .

Q: What are the advantages and uses of XML?

Ans: Advantages of XML:

● Readability: X M L d o c u m en t is p la in te xt a n d h u m a n rea d a b le.

• Hierarchal: X M L d o c u m e n t h a s a tree lik e s tru c tu re w h ic h is en o ug h to e xp res s
c o m p lex d a ta a s s im p le a s p o s s ib le .

• Language Independent: X M L d o c u m e n ts a re la n g u a g e n eu tra l. F o r e xa m p le , a ja va

p ro g ra m c an g en e ra te a n X M L w h ic h c a n b e p ars e d b y a p ro g ra m w ritte n in C + + o r p e rl.

• Platform Independent: X M L file s a re o p e ra tin g s ys tem in d ep en d en t

Uses of XML:

• X M L is u s ed to d es c rib e th e c o n ten ts o f a d o c u m e n t.

• X M L is u s ed in m es s a g in g , w h ere a p p lic a tio n s e xc h a n g e d a ta b etw ee n th em .

• T h e d a ta c a n b e e xtra c ted fro m th e d a ta b a s e , c a n b e p re s erve d w ith o rig in a l

in fo rm a tio n a n d c a n b e u s e d in m o re th a n o n e a p p lic a tio n in d iff eren t w a y

Q: Explain about the features of XML?

Ans:

Features and Advantages of XML

X M L is w id ely u s e d in th e e ra o f w eb d e ve lo p m en t. It is a ls o u s e d to s im p lify d a ta s to ra g e
a n d d a ta s h a rin g . T h e m a in fe atu res o r a d v a n ta g es o f X M L a re g iv en b e lo w .

1) XML separates data from HTML

If yo u n ee d to d is p la y d yn a m ic d a ta in yo u r H T M L d o c u m e n t, it w ill ta k e a lo t o f w o rk to
ed it th e H T M L ea c h tim e the d a ta c h a n g e s . W ith X M L , d a ta c a n b e s to re d in s e p a ra te
X M L file s . T h is w a y yo u c an fo c u s o n u s in g H T M L /C S S f o r d is p la y a n d lay o u t, a n d b e s u re
th a t c ha n g es in th e u n d erlying d a ta w ill n o t req u ire a n y c h an g es to th e H T M L .

2) XML simplifies data sharing

In th e re a l w o rld , c o m p u te r s ys te m s a n d d a ta b a s es c o n ta in d a ta in in c o m p a tib le fo rm a ts .
XM L d a ta is s to red in p la in tex t fo rm a t. T h is p ro vid e s a s o ftw a re - and
h a rd w a re -in d e p e n d e n t w a y o f s to rin g d a ta . T h is m a k es it m u c h ea s ie r to c rea te d a ta th a t
c a n b e s h a re d b y d iffere nt a p p lic a tio n s .

3) XML simplifies data transport

O n e o f th e m o s t tim e-c o n s u m in g c h allen g es fo r d ev elo p ers is to ex c h a n g e d a ta b e tw e en
in c o m p a tib le s ys tem s o v er th e In te rn et. E xc h an g in g d a ta a s X M L g rea tly red uc es th is
c o m p lex ity, s in c e th e d a ta c a n b e rea d b y d iffe ren t in c o m p a tib le a p p lic a tio n s .

4) XML simplifies Platform change

U p g ra d in g to ne w s ys tem s ( h a rd w a re o r s o ftw a re p la tfo rm s ), is a lw a ys tim e c o n s u m in g .

La rg e a m o u n ts o f d a ta m us t b e c o n ve rte d a n d in c o m p a tib le d a ta is o ften lo s t. X M L d a ta
is s to red in tex t fo rm a t. T h is m a k es it e a s ier to ex p a n d o r u p g ra d e to n ew o p e ra tin g
s ys tem s , n ew a p p lic a tio n s , o r n e w b ro w s ers , w ith o u t lo s in g d a ta .

5) XML increases data availability

D iffe ren t a p p lic a tio n s c an a c c es s yo u r d a ta , n o t o nly in H T M L p a g es , b u t a ls o fro m X M L

d a ta s o u rc es . W ith X M L , yo u r d a ta c a n b e a va ila b le to a ll k in d s o f "rea d in g m a c h in es "
(H a n d h e ld c o m p u ters , v o ic e m ac h in es , n e w s fee d s , etc ), a n d m a k e it m o re a v a ila b le fo r
b lin d p eo p le, o r p eo p le w ith o th er d is a b ilitie s .

6) XML can be used to create new internet languages

A lo t o f n e w In tern e t la n g u a g e s a re c rea ted w ith X M L.

H ere a re s o m e e xa m p le s :

o XHTML

o W S D L fo r d e s c rib in g a va ila b le w eb s ervic es

o W A P a n d W M L a s m a rk u p la n g ua g es fo r h a n d h e ld d e vic es

o R S S la n g u a g e s fo r n ew s fee d s

o R D F a n d O W L fo r d es c rib in g re s o u rc e s a n d o n to lo g y

o S M IL fo r d es c rib in g m u ltim ed ia fo r th e w eb

Q: What are the basic building blocks of XML documents?

Ans: XML uses the same building blocks as HTML: tags that define elements,
attributes of those elements, and their values.

XML elements:

E le m e n ts c a n b e d ef in e d a s b u ild in g b lo c k s o f a n X M L. E le m e n ts c a n b e h a ve a s
c o n ta in e rs to h o ld te xt, ele m e n ts , a ttrib u te s , m e d ia o b je c ts o r a ll o f th es e . E a c h X M L
d o c u m en t c o n ta in s o n e o r m o re e lem en ts , th e s c o p e o f w hic h a re e ith e r d elim ited b y s ta rt
a n d e n d ta g s , o r fo r em p ty ele m e n ts , b y a n e m p ty-ele m e n t ta g .

Syntax

< ele m e n t-n a m e attrib u te 1 a ttrib u te2 >

... .c o n ten t
< / elem en t-n a m e>

w h ere,

● ele m e n t-n a m e is th e n a m e o f th e elem en t. T h e n a m e its c a s e in th e s ta rt a n d e n d

ta g s m u s t m a tc h .
● a ttrib u te1 , a ttrib u te 2 a re a ttrib u tes o f th e elem en t s e p a ra te d b y w h ite s p a c es . A n
attrib u te d e fin e s a p ro p erty o f th e elem e nt. It a s s o c ia te s a n a m e w ith a v alu e ,
w h ic h is a s trin g o f c h ara c te rs . A n attrib u te is w ritten a s −
n a m e = "v a lu e "

n a m e is fo llo w ed b y a n = s ig n a n d a s trin g v alu e in s id e d o u b le(" ") o r s in g le (' ') q u o tes .

Empty Element

< n a m e a ttrib u te1 a ttrib ute 2 .. ./>

F o llo w in g is a n e xa m p le o f a n X M L d o c u m e nt u s in g va rio u s X M L elem en t −

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 "? >

< c o n ta c t-in fo >
< a d d res s c ate g o ry = "re s id en c e">
< n am e > T a n m a y P a til< / n a m e>
< c o m p a ny > T u to ria ls P o in t< /c o m p a n y>
< p h o n e > (0 1 1 ) 1 2 3 -4 5 6 7 < / p h o n e >
< / a d d re s s >
< / c o nta c t-in fo >

XML Elements Rules

● A n elem en t n a m e c a n c o n ta in a n y a lp h a n u m eric c h a ra c ters . Th e o n ly p u n c tu a tio n

m a rk a llo w e d in n a m es a re th e h yp h e n (-), u n d er-s c o re (_ ) a n d p erio d (.).
● N a m e s are c a s e s en s itiv e. F o r ex a m p le, A d d re s s , a d d re s s , an d A D D R E S S a re
d iffe re n t n a m es .
● S ta rt a n d en d ta g s o f a n e lem en t m u s t b e id e n tic a l.
XML Attribute:

X M L ele m e n ts c a n h a ve a ttrib u tes , ju s t lik e H T M L. A ttrib u tes p ro vid e a d d itio n a l

in fo rm a tio n a b o u t a n ele m e n t. A ttrib u te s a re k n o w n a s “ n am e -va lu e p a irs ” a n d a re
c o n ta in e d w ith in th e o p en in g ta g o f a n e lem en t. A ttrib u te v a lu es m u s t a lw a ys b e q u o ted .
E ith er s in g le o r d o u b le q u o tes c a n b e u s e d . F o r a p ers o n ’ s g e n d e r, th e p e rs o n elem en t
c a n b e w ritte n lik e th is :

< p e rs o n g e n d e r= ” m a le” >

OR

< p e rs o n g e n d e r= ’ m a le’ >

In fo rm a tio n c o n ta in e d in a n a ttrib u te is g en era lly c o n s id ered m e ta d a ta : th a t is ,

in fo rm a tio n ab o u t th e d a ta in th e e lem en t, a s o p p o s e d to th e d a ta its elf. A n e le m e n t c a n
h a ve o n e o r m o re th a n o n e a ttrib u tes .

Rules:

1 . A ttrib u te s c a n n o t h a v e c o n ta in m u ltip le v a lu es .
2 . A ttrib u te s c a n n o t c o n ta in tree s tru c tu re.
3 . A ttrib u te s a re n o t e a s ily ex p a n d a b le .

Q: Write about XML document?

Ans: A n X M L d o c u m en t is a b a s ic u n it o f X M L in fo rm a tio n c o m p o s ed o f e le m en ts a n d
o th e r m a rk u p in a n o rd erly p a c k a g e . A n X M L d o c u m e n t c a n c o n ta in s w id e va riety o f d a ta .
F o r ex a m p le, d a ta b a s e o f n u m b e rs , n u m b e rs rep re s en tin g m o lec u lar s tru c tu re o r a
m a th e m a tic a l eq u a tio n .

Example:

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 "? >

< w o n d er>
< n a m e > H a n g in g g a rd en s o f B a b ylo n < /n a m e>
< lo c a tio n> B a b ylo n , Ira w < / lo c a tio n >
< h eig h t u n its = ” f eet” > 1 0 7 < / h eig h t>
< / w o n d e r>

T h e firs t lin e o f th e X M L d o c u m e n t < ? X M L v ers io n = ” 1 .0 ” ? > is th e X M L d ec la ra tio n ,

w h ic h s p ec if y th e v ers io n o f X M L yo u a re u s in g . A ll X M L d o c u m e n ts c a n o p tio n a lly b e g in
w ith a n X M L d ec lara tio n .

T h e n e xt lin e < w o n d er> d efin e s th e firs t e le m e n t o f th e d o c u m e n t an d is c a lled th e ro o t

ele m e n t. In a n X M L d o c u m en t, th ere c a n b e o n ly o n e ro o t e lem en t. T h e n ex t th ree lin es
a re c a lled c h ild elem e nts , a n d th ey d es c rib e th e ro o t elem e nt in m o re d eta il. T h e la s t c h ild
ele m e n t h e ig h t c o n ta in s a n a ttrib u te c alled u n its w h ic h is b e in g u s ed to s to re th e s p e c ific
u n its o f th e h eig h t m ea s u rem en t. A ttrib u te s a re u s ed to in c lu d e a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n to
th e e lem en t, w ith o u t a d d in g te xt to th e e le m e n t its e lf. F in a lly, th e X M L d o c u m en t e n d
w ith th e c lo s in g ta g o f th e ro o t e lem en t< / w o n d e r> .

Q: What are the syntax rules for XML document?

Ans: Y o u m u s t f o llo w th e s e ru le s w h e n yo u c rea te X M L s yn tax :

● A ll X M L e lem en ts m u s t h a ve a c lo s ing ta g .
● X M L ta g s a re c a s e s e n s itive .
● A ll X M L e lem en ts m u s t b e p ro p e rly n e s te d .
● A ll X M L d o c u m e n ts m u s t h a v e a ro o t elem e nt.
● A ttrib u te v a lu es m u s t a lw a ys b e q u o te d .

1. All XML elements must have a closing tag

It is ille g a l to o m it th e c lo s in g ta g w h e n yo u a re c rea tin g X M L s yn ta x . X M L e le m e n ts m u s t

h a ve a c lo s in g ta g .

E g : < b o d y> S e e S p o t ru n .< / b o d y>

< b o d y> S ee S p o t c a tc h th e b a ll.< / b o d y>

● X M L ta g s a re c a s e s e n s itive
● W h e n yo u c rea te X M L d o c u m en ts , th e ta g < B o d y> is d if feren t fro m th e ta g < b o d y > .
● A ll X M L e lem en ts m u s t b e p ro p e rly n e s te d
Im p ro p er n es tin g o f ta g s m a k es n o s e ns e to X M L .

< b > < i> T h is te xt is b o ld a n d ita lic .< /i> < /b >

2. XML tags are case sensitive

E le m e n t n a m ed w o n d e r, W O N D E R a n d W o n d e r a re c o n s id ered en tire ly s e p a ra te
a n d u n rela ted to e a c h o th er.

3. All XML elements must be properly nested: If yo u s ta rt ele m e n t A , th en s ta rt

ele m e n t B , yo u m u s t f irs t c lo s e e lem en t B b efo re c lo s in g e lem en t A .

Eg: < A >

< b > N a m e < /b >

</A>

4. All XML documents must have a root element

A ll X M L d o c u m en ts m u s t c o n ta in a s in g le ta g p a ir to d efin e a ro o t e lem en t. A ll o th er
ele m e n ts m u s t b e w ith in th is ro o t e le m e n t. A ll e le m en ts c an h a ve s u b elem e nts ( c h ild
ele m e n ts ) . S u b elem e n ts m u s t b e c o rrec tly n e s te d w ith in th e ir p a ren t ele m e n t.

Example:

< ro o t>

< c h ild >

< s u b c h ild > . .... < /s u b c h ild >

< /c h ild >

< / ro o t>

5. Attribute values must always be quoted

It is ille g a l to o m it q u o ta tio n m a rk s a ro u n d a ttrib u te v a lu es . X M L elem e n ts c a n h a v e

a ttrib u tes in n am e /v a lu e p a irs ; h o w e ve r, th e a ttrib ute v a lu e m u s t a lw a ys b e q u o te d .

< ? x m l ve rs io n = “ 1 .0 ” e n c o d in g = “ IS O -8 8 5 9 -1 ” ? >
< n o te d a te = ” 0 5 /0 5 / 0 5 ” >

< to > D ic k < / to >

< fro m > J a n e < /f ro m >

< / n o te>

Q: How to place comments in XML?

Ans: X M L c o m m en ts are s im ila r to H T M L c o m m e n ts . T h e c o m m en ts a re a d d e d a s n o tes

o r lin e s fo r u n d ers ta n d in g th e p u rp o s e o f a n X M L c o d e .

C o m m e n ts c a n b e u s ed to in c lu d e rela ted lin k s , in fo rm a tio n , an d te rm s . T h e y a re v is ib le

o n ly in th e s o u rc e c o d e; n o t in th e X M L c o d e. C o m m en ts m a y a p p ea r a n yw he re in X M L
co de .

Syntax

X M L c o m m en t h a s th e f o llo w in g s yn ta x −

< !--Y o u r c o m m en t-->

A c o m m e n t s ta rts w ith < !-- a n d en d s w ith --> . Y o u c a n a d d tex tu a l n o tes a s c o m m en ts

b e tw e en th e c h a ra c te rs . Y o u m u s t n o t n es t o n e c o m m e n t in s id e th e o th e r.

E g : < ? x m l v ers io n = "1 .0 " en c o d in g = "U T F -8 " ? >

< !--S tu d e n ts g ra d es a re u p lo a d ed b y m o n th s -

X M L C o m m en ts R u les

● C o m m e n ts c a n n o t a p p e ar b e fo re X M L d ec la ra tio n .
● C o m m e n ts m a y a p p e a r a n yw h ere in a d o c u m e n t.
● C o m m e n ts m u s t n o t a p p ea r w ith in a ttrib u te v a lue s .
● C o m m e n ts c a n n o t b e n es ted in s id e the o th er c o m m en ts .

Q: Write about DTD’ s (OR) Document Type Definitions?

Ans: T h e X M L D o c u m en t T yp e D e c la ra tio n , c o m m o n ly k n o w n a s D T D , is a w a y to d e s c rib e

X M L la n g u a g e p re c is ely. D T D s c h ec k v o c a b u la ry a n d v a lid ity o f th e s tru c tu re o f X M L
d o c u m en ts a g a in s t g ra m m a tic a l ru le s o f a p p ro p ria te X M L la n g u a g e .
A n X M L D T D c a n b e e ith e r s p ec ifie d in s id e th e d o c u m e n t, o r it c a n b e k ep t in a s e p a ra te
d o c u m en t a n d th en lik e d s ep a ra te ly.

Syntax

B a s ic s yn tax o f a D T D is a s f o llo w s −

< !D O C T Y P E e le m en t D T D id e ntifier
[
d ec la ra tio n 1
d ec la ra tio n 2
. ..... ..
]>

In th e a b o ve s yn ta x ,

● T h e D T D s ta rts w ith < !D O C T Y P E d elim iter.

● A n e le m e n t tells th e p a rs er to p a rs e the d o c u m en t fro m th e s p ec ifie d ro o t ele m e n t.
● D T D id en tif ie r is a n id e n tif ie r fo r th e d o c u m en t typ e d e fin itio n , w h ic h m a y b e th e
p a th to a file o n th e s ys tem o r U R L to a file o n th e in tern et. If th e D T D is p o in tin g to
ex te rn a l p a th , it is c a lled E xtern a l Su b s et.
● T h e s q u are b rac k ets [ ] en c lo s e a n o p tio n a l lis t o f e n tity d e c la ra tio n s c a lle d In tern a l
Su b s et.

Internal DTD

A D T D is refe rre d to a s a n in tern a l D T D if e lem en ts a re d e c la re d w ith in th e X M L files . T o

refe r it a s in te rn al D T D , s ta n d a lo n e a ttrib u te in X M L d ec la ra tio n m u s t b e s e t to yes . T h is
m ea n s , th e d e c la ra tio n w o rk s in d e p e n d en t o f a n ex tern a l s o u rc e.

Syntax

F o llo w in g is th e s yn ta x o f in te rn a l D T D −

< !D O C T Y P E ro o t-elem e nt [e le m en t-d e c la ra tio ns ]>

w h ere ro o t-elem en t is th e n a m e o f ro o t elem e n t a n d e lem en t-d e c la ra tio n s is w h ere yo u

d e c la re th e ele m e n ts .

E x a m p le

F o llo w in g is a s im p le e xa m p le o f in tern a l D T D −

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 " e n c o d in g = "U T F -8 " s ta n d a lo n e = "yes " ? >

< !D O C T Y P E a d d res s [
 < !E L E M E N T a d d re s s (n a m e ,c o m p a n y,p h o n e )>
< !E L E M E N T n a m e (# P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T c o m p a n y (# P C D A T A ) >
< !E L E M E N T p h o n e (# PC D A TA )>
]>

< a d d res s >

< n a m e> T a n m a y P a til< / n a m e >
< c o m p a n y> T u to ria ls P o in t< /c o m p a n y>
< p h o n e > (0 1 1 ) 1 2 3 -4 5 6 7 < /p h o n e >
< / a d d re s s >

Le t u s g o th ro ug h th e ab o v e c o d e −

S ta rt D e c la ra tio n − B eg in th e X M L d e c la ra tio n w ith th e fo llo w in g s ta te m e n t.

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 " e n c o d in g = "U T F -8 " s ta n d a lo n e = "yes " ? >

DTD − Im m e d ia tely a fte r th e X M L h e a d e r, th e d o c um e n t ty p e d e c la ra tio n f o llo w s ,

c o m m o n ly refe rre d to a s th e D O C TY P E −

< !D O C T Y P E a d d res s [

T h e D O C T Y P E d ec la ra tio n h a s an ex c la m atio n m a rk (!) a t th e s ta rt o f th e ele m e n t n a m e .

T h e D O C T Y P E in fo rm s th e p a rs er tha t a D T D is as s o c ia ted w ith th is X M L d o c u m e n t.

D T D B o d y − T h e D O C T Y P E d ec la ra tio n is fo llo w e d b y b o d y o f th e D T D , w h e re yo u d e c la re
ele m e n ts , a ttrib u te s , en titie s , a n d n o ta tio n s .

< !E L E M E N T a d d re s s ( n a m e ,c o m p a n y,p h o n e )>

< !E L E M E N T n a m e ( # P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T c o m p a n y ( # P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T p h o ne _ no (# P C D A T A ) >

S ev era l elem en ts a re d e c la re d h e re th a t m a k e u p th e v o c a b u la ry o f th e < n a m e > d o c u m en t.

< !E LE M E N T n a m e (# P C D A T A )> d ef in e s th e e lem en t n a m e to b e o f typ e "# P C D A T A ". H ere
# P C D A T A m e an s p a rs e -a b le te xt d a ta .

E n d D e c la ra tio n − F in ally, th e d ec la ra tio n s ec tio n o f th e D T D is c lo s ed u s in g a c lo s in g

b ra c k et a n d a c lo s in g a n g le b ra c k e t (]> ) . T h is e ffe c tive ly en d s th e d ef in itio n , a n d
th erea fte r, th e X M L d o c u m en t fo llo w s im m ed ia te ly .
R u le s
● T h e d o c u m en t typ e d e c la ra tio n m u s t a p p ea r a t th e s ta rt o f th e d o c u m en t
(p rec ed ed o n ly b y th e X M L h e a d e r) − it is no t p e rm itte d a n yw h e re e ls e w ith in th e
d o c u m e n t.
● S im ila r to th e D O C T Y P E d ec la ra tio n , th e e le m en t d ec la ra tio n s m u s t s ta rt w ith a n
ex c la m a tio n m a rk .
● T h e N a m e in th e d o c u m e n t typ e d ec la ra tio n m u s t m a tc h the e le m e n t typ e o f th e
ro o t elem en t.

External DTD

In ex te rn al D T D ele m e n ts a re d ec la re d o u ts id e th e X M L file. T h e y a re a c c es s e d b y
s p e c ifyin g th e s ys tem a ttrib u tes w h ic h m a y b e e ith e r th e leg a l .d td file o r a v a lid U R L. T o
refe r it a s ex tern a l D T D , s ta n d a lo n e attrib u te in th e X M L d e c la ra tio n m u s t b e s e t a s n o .
T h is m e an s , d ec la ra tio n in c lu d e s in fo rm a tio n fro m th e e xtern a l s o u rc e .

Syntax
< !D O C T Y P E ro o t-elem e nt S Y S T E M "file -n a m e">

w h ere file-na m e is the file w ith .d td e xten s io n .

Example

T h e fo llo w in g e xa m p le s h o w s e xtern a l D T D u s a g e −

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 " e n c o d in g = "U T F -8 " s ta n d a lo n e = "n o " ? >

< !D O C T Y P E a d d res s S Y S T E M "a d d re s s .d td ">
< a d d res s >
< n a m e> T a n m a y P a til< / n a m e >
< c o m p a n y> T u to ria ls P o in t< /c o m p a n y>
< p h o n e > (0 1 1 ) 1 2 3 -4 5 6 7 < /p h o n e >
< / a d d re s s >

T h e c o n ten t o f th e D T D file a d d res s .d td is a s s h o w n −

< !E L E M E N T a d d re s s ( n a m e ,c o m p a n y,p h o n e )>

< !E L E M E N T n a m e ( # P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T c o m p a n y ( # P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T p h o ne (# P C D A T A )>

Q: What are the basic building blocks of DTD?

Ans: All XML elements are made up by the following building blocks:
1 . E le m e n ts
2 . A ttrib u te s
3 . E n tites
4. P CD ATA
5. CD ATA

Elements:-

E le m e n ts a re th e m a in b u ild in g b lo c k s o f X M L d o c u m en ts . In a D T D , X M L e le m en ts a re
d e c la red w ith a n e le m e n t d ec la ra tio n w ith th e f o llo w in g s yn ta x :

< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e c a te g o ry>

or
< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e (e lem en t-c o n ten t)>

a . E m p ty E le m e n ts
E m p ty ele m e n ts a re d ec la red w ith th e c a teg o ry k e yw o rd E M P T Y :

< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e E M P T Y >

E x a m p le:

< !E L E M E N T b r E M P TY >

b. Elements with Parsed Character Data

E le m e n ts w ith o n ly p ars e d c h a ra c te r d a ta a re d e c la re d w ith # P C D A T A in s id e p a ren th es e s :

< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e (# P C D A T A )>

E x a m p le:

< !E L E M E N T fro m ( # P C D A T A )>

c. Elements with any Contents

E le m e n ts d e c la re d w ith the c a te g o ry k eyw o rd A N Y , c a n c o n ta in a n y c o m b in a tio n o f

p a rs a b le d a ta :

< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e A N Y >

E x a m p le:

< !E L E M E N T n o te A N Y >

d. Elements with Children (sequences)

E le m e n ts w ith o n e o r m o re c h ild re n a re d ec lare d w ith th e n a m e o f th e c h ild ren elem en ts

in s id e p a re n th e s es :

< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e (c h ild 1 )>

or
< !E L E M E N T elem e nt-n a m e (c h ild 1 , c h ild 2 ,… ) >

Example:

< !E L E M E N T b o o k (title, a u th o r, in fo , b o d y)>

W h e n c h ild re n a re d ec la red in a s eq u en c e s ep ara ted b y c o m m a s , th e c h ild ren m u s t

a p p ea r in th e s a m e s eq u en c e in th e d o c u m e n t. In a fu ll d ec la ra tio n , th e c hild re n m u s t a ls o
b e d e c la red , a n d th e c h ild ren c a n a ls o h a v e c h ild re n . T h e fu ll d ec la ra tio n o f th e “ n o te”
ele m e n t is :
< !E L E M E N T b o o k (title, a u th o r, in fo , b o d y)>
< !E L E M E N T title (# P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T a u th o r (# P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T in f o (# P C D A T A )>
< !E L E M E N T b o d y (# P C D A T A )>

2) Attributes:- A ttrib u tes p ro v id e e xtra in fo rm a tio n a b o u t ele m e n ts . A ttrib u te s a re alw a ys

p la c ed in s id e th e o p e n in g ta g o f a n e lem en t. A ttrib u te s a lw a ys c o m e in n a m e/ va lu e p a irs .

T h e n a m e o f th e e lem en t is “ p a ym e n t” . T h e n a m e o f th e a ttrib u te is “ typ e ” . T h e

v alu e o f a ttrib u te is “ c h ec k ” . S in c e th e e le m e n t its elf is e m p ty it is c lo s ed b y a ” / ” . In
a D T D , a ttrib u te s a re d e c la red w ith a n A T T L IS T d e c la ra tio n . A n a ttrib u te d e c la ra tio n h a s
th e fo llo w in g s yn ta x:

< !A T T LIS T e lem en t-n a m e a ttrib u te-n a m e a ttrib u te-typ e d efa u lt-va lu e>

D T D e xa m p le :

< !A T T LIS T p a ym e n t typ e C D A T A “ c h e c k ” >

T h e d efa u lt-va lu e c a n b e o ne o f th e fo llo w in g :

V a lu e E x p la n a tio n

T h e d e fa u lt v a lu e o f th e a ttrib u te
V a lu e

# R E Q U IR E D T h e a ttrib u te is re q u ire d

# IM P L IE D T h e a ttrib u te is n o t req u ire d

 T h e a ttrib u te va lu e is fixe d
# F IX E D v a lu e

3) Entities:-
S o m e c h a ra c te rs h a v e a s p ec ia l m ea n in g in X M L, lik e th e les s th a n s ig n (< ) th a t d e fin es
th e s ta rt of an XML ta g . M o st of us know th e HTM L e n tity: ” “ . T h is
“ n o -b rea k in g -s p a c e ” e n tity is u s e d in H T M L to in s ert a n e xtra s p a c e in a d o c u m en t.
E n titie s are e xp a n d e d w h en a d o c u m e n t is p a rs ed b y a n X M L p a rs e r.

T h e fo llo w in g e n tities a re p red efin e d in X M L:

E n tity R efe ren c e s C h a ra c ter

& lt; <

& g t; >

&amp; &

& q u o t; “

& apo s; ‘

4) PCDATA:- P C D A T A m ea n s . W e c a n th in k o f c ha ra c te r d a ta a s
th e te xt fo u n d b etw ee n th e s ta rt ta g a n d th e en d ta g o f a n X M L e le m e n t. It is th e tex t th a t
w ill b e p a rs ed b y a p a rs e r. T h e te xt w ill b e e xa m ine d b y th e p a rs e r fo r e n tities a n d m a rk u p .
T a g s in s id e th e te xt w ill b e tre a ted a s m a rk u p a n d e n titie s w ill b e e xp a n d ed . H o w ev er,
p a rs e d c h a rac ter d a ta s h o u ld n o t c o n ta in a n y & , < , o r > c h a ra c te rs ; th e s e n ee d to b e
rep re s en ted b y th e & < a n d > e n tities , res p ec tiv ely.
5) CDATA:- C D A T A m e a n s c h a ra c ter d a ta . C D A T A is th e te xt th a t w ill n o t b e p a rs ed b y a
p a rs e r. T a g s in s id e th e tex t w ill n o t b e trea te d a s m a rk u p a n d en titie s w ill n o t b e
ex p a n d ed .

Q: How to create XML with CSS?

Ans: X M L s ta n d s fo r E xten s ib le M a rk u p L a ng u a g e . It is a d yn a m ic m a rk u p la n g u a g e. It is
u s ed to tra n s fo rm d a ta fro m o n e fo rm to a n o th e r fo rm .
A n X M L file c a n b e d is p la yed u s in g tw o w a ys . T h es e a re a s fo llo w s :-
1. C a s c a d in g S tyle S h ee t
2. E x ten s ib le S tyles h e et La n g u a g e T ra ns f o rm a tio n
Displaying XML file using CSS :
C S S c a n b e u s ed to d is p la y th e c o n ten ts o f th e X M L d o c u m en t in a c le a r a n d p re c is e
m a n n er. It g ive s th e d es ig n a n d s tyle to w ho le X M L d o c u m en t.
● Basic steps in defining a CSS style sheet for XML :
F o r d e fin in g th e s tyle ru les fo r the X M L d o c u m e n t, th e fo llo w in g th in g s s h o u ld b e d o n e :
-
1 . D e fin e th e s tyle ru les fo r th e tex t e le m en ts s u c h a s f o n t-s ize , c o lo r, fo n t-w eig h t, e tc .
2 . D e fin e e a c h ele m e n t e ith e r a s a b lo c k , in lin e o r lis t ele m e n t, u s in g th e d is p la y
p ro p erty o f C S S .
3 . Id en tify th e title s an d b o ld th e m .
● Linking XML with CSS :

In o rd er to d is p la y th e X M L file u s in g C S S , lin k X M L file w ith C S S . B e lo w is th e s yn ta x

fo r lin k in g th e X M L file w ith C S S :

Example1.

T h e X M L f ile is c rea ted th a t c o n ta in s th e in fo rm a tio n a b o u t fiv e b o o k s a n d d is p la yin g th e

X M L file u s in g C S S .
C re a tin g B o o k s .x m l a s :-

< ? x m l ve rs io n = "1 .0 " en c o d in g = "U T F -8 "? >

< ? x m l-s tyles h e et typ e= "te xt/ c s s " h re f= "R u le.c s s "? >
<bo oks>
 < h ea d in g > W elc o m e T o G e ek s fo rG ee k s < / h ea d in g >
<bo ok>
< title> T itle -: W e b P ro g ra m m in g < / title>
< a u th o r> A u th o r -: C h ris b a tes < / a u th o r>
< p ub lis h e r> P u b lis h er -: W ile y< /p u b lis h er>
< e d itio n > E d itio n -: 3 < /e d itio n >
< p ric e > P ric e -: 3 0 0 < / p ric e >
</bo ok>
<bo ok>
< title> T itle -: In tern e t w o rld -w id e -w eb < /title >
< a u th o r> A u th o r -: D itel< /a u th o r>
< p ub lis h e r> P u b lis h er -: P e a rs o n < /p u b lis h er>
< e d itio n > E d itio n -: 3 < /e d itio n >
< p ric e > P ric e -: 4 0 0 < /p ric e >
</bo ok>
<bo ok>
< title> T itle -: C o m p u ter N e tw o rk s < / title>
< a u th o r> A u th o r -: F o ru o u z a n < /a u th o r>
< p ub lis h e r> P u b lis h er -: M c G ra w H ill< / p u b lis h er>
< e d itio n > E d itio n -: 5 < /e d itio n >
< p ric e > P ric e -: 7 0 0 < /p ric e >
</bo ok></bo oks>

In th e a b o ve e xa m p le , B o o k s .x m l is lin k e d w ith R u le. c s s w h ic h c o n ta in s th e

c o rre s p o n d in g s tyle s h e et ru le s .

● CSS FILE :

C re a tin g R u le. c s s a s :-

bo oks {
c o lo r: w h ite ;
b a c k g ro u n d -c o lo r : g ra y;
w id th : 1 0 0 % ;
}
h ea d in g {
c o lo r: g re en ;
 fo n t-s iz e : 4 0 p x;
b a c k g ro u n d -c o lo r : p o w d erb lu e ;
}
h ea d in g , title, a u th o r, p u b lis h e r, ed itio n , p ric e {
d is p la y : b lo c k ;
}
title {
fo n t-s iz e : 2 5 p x;
fo n t-w e ig h t : b o ld ;
}

Q: What are the differences between XML and HTML?

Ans:

N HTM L XML
o.

1) H T M L is u s e d to d is p la y d a ta a n d X M L is a s o ftw a re an d h a rd w a re in d ep en d en t to o l u s e d to
fo c u s es o n h o w d a ta lo o k s . tra n s p o rt a n d s to re d a ta . It fo c u s es o n w h a t d a ta is .

2) H T M L is a m a rk u p la n g u a g e its e lf . X M L p ro v id es a fram e w o rk to d efin e m a rk u p la n g u a g e s .

3) H T M L is n o t c a s e s e n s itive . X M L is c a s e s en s itiv e.

4) H T M L is a p res e n ta tio n la ng u a g e . X M L is n e ith e r a p re s en ta tio n la n g u a g e n o r a p ro g ram m ing

la n g u a g e .

5) HTM L has its own p re d e fin ed Y o u c a n d efin e ta g s a c c o rd ing to yo u r n e ed .

ta g s .

6) In H T M L, it is n o t n e c e s s ary to u s e X M L m a k e s it m a n d a to ry to u s e a c lo s in g ta g .
a c lo s in g ta g .

7) H T M L is s ta tic b ec a u s e it is u s ed X M L is d yn a m ic b e c a u s e it is u s e d to tra n s p o rt d ata .

to d is p la y d a ta .

8) HTM L d oe s not p re s erve X M L p res e rv e w h ite s p a c e s .

 w h ites p a c e s .

Q: Define DOM?

Ans: The D oc um e nt O b jec t M o del (DO M ) is a p ro g ra m m in g

in te rfa c e f o r H T M L (H yp e rT ex t M a rk u p La n g u a g e ) a n d X M L (E x te n s ib le m a rk u p
la n g u a g e ) d o c u m en ts . It d e fin e s th e lo g ic a l s tru c tu re o f d o c u m e n ts a n d th e w a y a
d o c u m e n t is a c c e s s e d a n d m a n ip u la te d .