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[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Re: Six Reasons Not to use XML Attributes
 On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 7:51 AM, Dimitre Novatchev <dnovatchev@gmail.com> wrote: > I don't find a single confincing argument listed. > > Actuallu, in most cases using attributes appropriately, *simplifies* > an XML document. > > Not to speak that for big documents the savings in memory may be dramatic. > > Cheers, > Dimitre Novatchev > > On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 5:51 AM, Costello, Roger L. <costello@mitre.org> wrote: >> Hi Folks, >> >> 1. Â XML attributes are specific to the XML data format. Other data formats, Â such as >> Â Â comma-separated values (CSV) and binary, don't have it. That is, taking a (element) >> Â Â name with a (element) data value and then adding to that a (attribute) name/value >> Â Â pair is specific to XML. >> >> 2. Â Avoiding XML attributes makes your language simpler. >> >> 3. Â When people use XML attributes they typically assign them some meaning. For example, >> Â Â some people assign attributes the meaning "attributes are metadata." When you enter >> Â Â the land of meaning (and its partner, interpretation) you enter the land of chaos [1]. By >> Â Â eliminating attributes you have one less category of things to give meaning to and one >> Â Â less category of things to be misinterpreted. >> >> 4. Â XML Schemas that do not use xsd:attribute can be used to logically model other data >> Â Â formats besides XML, using the Data Format Description Language (DFDL) [2]. >> >> 5. Â Attributes are never needed. For example, >> >> Â Â Â Â Â The altitude is 12000 feet. >> >> Â Â can be modeled using an attribute: >> >> Â Â Â Â <altitude units="feet">12000</altitude> >> >> Â Â However it can be equivalently modeled using just elements: >> >> Â Â Â Â <altitude> >> Â Â Â Â Â Â <units>feet</unit> >> Â Â Â Â Â Â <value>12000</value> >> Â Â Â Â </altitude> >> >> 6. Â Michael Kay says that attributes are unnecessary [3]: >> >> Â Â Â XML is too large. Attributes are unnecessary, mixed content is >> Â Â Â unnecessary, namespaces are unnecessary: without these unnecessary >> Â Â Â concepts, XSD and many other things would have been much simpler. >> >> >> Are there any more reasons not to use XML attributes? >> >> /Roger >> >> [1] http://www.xfront.com/The-edge-of-chaos-where-syntax-ends-and-interpretation-begins.pdf >> >> [2] https://www.ogf.org/dfdl/ >> >> [3] http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/201112/msg00085.html >> >> >> _______________________________________________________________________ >> >> 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@lists.xml.org >> subscribe: xml-dev-subscribe@lists.xml.org >> List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/ >> List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php >> > > > > -- > Cheers, > Dimitre Novatchev > --------------------------------------- > Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence. > --------------------------------------- > To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk > ------------------------------------- > Never fight an inanimate object > ------------------------------------- > To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the > biggest mistake of all > ------------------------------------ > Quality means doing it right when no one is looking. > ------------------------------------- > You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what > you're doing is work or play > ------------------------------------- > Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. > ------------------------------------- > I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it. -- Cheers, Dimitre Novatchev --------------------------------------- Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence. --------------------------------------- To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk ------------------------------------- Never fight an inanimate object ------------------------------------- To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all ------------------------------------ Quality means doing it right when no one is looking. ------------------------------------- You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play ------------------------------------- Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. ------------------------------------- I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it. 
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