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DTD Question: Attributes vs Elements

• From: Kurt Donath <kurt.donath@l...>
• To: xml-dev@i...
• Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 14:33:39 -0500

What is the criteria for selecting when to define data as an attribute
or element in a DTD?  

Simon says attributes are an "excellent tool for passing along extra
information about your element to an automated processor - a parser, a
browser, or a conversion tool.   They are NOT a good place to actually
store data".  Simon continues, "generally, you should use attributes to
store information that may not be useful to humans directly but may help
computers process the element properly."

Would anyone like to add or differ with this?

Kurt Donath

-- 
Kurt Donath
Lockheed Martin - Enterprise Information Systems
Systems Engineering / Webserv
315.456.6276
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