[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: What does "optional" mean?
Thanks to all who participated in this discussion -- David C, Mukul, David L, Len, Dan, Michael, Jim, John, and Ken. Fascinating discussion! For me the discussion has been a great reminder: Schemas don't have any semantics. I think that is something that bears repeating often. I particularly like Jim Melton's definition of "optional": Optional, in XML Schemas, in DTDs, and other XML-related standards (at least within the W3C) means nothing more than "may be provided or omitted". and he goes on to say: Any "semantics" associated with the provision or omission of something optional might be provided by an application or other environment. Awesome clarity! At this point I will do my best at characterizing what I think Walter Perry would say: The consumer of an XML instance document that has an omitted element or attribute is free to give whatever meaning he or she desires to that omission. [Walter, if I have not accurately characterized your ideas please correct me.] /Roger
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