[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: "XML is just syntax" versus "Use semantic markup" (Is thi
I would say the tags themselves do not bear any meaning. Only when tags are associated with some agreed upon vocabularies by additional mechanisms or common sense, can they provide semantic meanings. Lisa -----Original Message----- From: Costello, Roger L. [mailto:costello@m...] Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 5:49 AM To: xml-dev@l... Subject: "XML is just syntax" versus "Use semantic markup" (Is this a paradox?) Hi Folks, I have often heard it said: "XML is just syntax." I have equally often heard it said: "Use semantic markup." How can XML be "just syntax" and also be "semantic markup"? Is this a paradox? Let me take a go at resolving this seeming paradox: 1. Tags are indeed just syntax. They provide a mechanism for structuring the data. 2. Tags are created by a specification, which define what each tag means. When constructing an XML document, there may be a choice of tags, say <ABC> and <XYZ>, which may be used to wrap a particular datum (item of data). Suppose the specification gave tag <ABC> a general meaning and tag <XYZ> a specific meaning. Compare: <ABC>datum</ABC> versus <XYZ>datum</XYZ> We say that the later is using "semantic markup." This means: those applications which have been implemented to understand the tag-set will gain more information about 'datum' from the <XYZ> tag than from the <ABC> tag. Let me repeat the last sentence: "... will gain more information about 'datum' from the <XYZ> tag than the <ABC> tag." Hmm, sounds to me like the tags are providing more than just syntax. The tags are providing information/meaning/semantics about 'datum'. This paradox is unresolved in my mind. Care to take a go at resolving this paradox? /Roger _______________________________________________________________________ XML-DEV is a publicly archived, unmoderated list hosted by OASIS to support XML implementation and development. To minimize spam in the archives, you must subscribe before posting. [Un]Subscribe/change address: http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/ Or unsubscribe: xml-dev-unsubscribe@l... subscribe: xml-dev-subscribe@l... List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/ List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php
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