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Re: Is XML a "data structure"?

• From: Michael Kay <mike@saxonica.com>
• To: Roger L Costello <costello@mitre.org>
• Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2022 13:52:06 +0100

The term "data structure" usually refers to a concrete physical implementation - for example a two-way linked list, as distinct from a "data model" which refers to a more abstract level (like elements and attributes). In that sense XML is not a data structure.

Michael Kay
Saxonica

> On 3 Jun 2022, at 12:38, Roger L Costello <costello@mitre.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> A compiler book [1] that I am reading has a chapter on code optimization for the target machine. In the chapter it talks about how to break up the code into "basic blocks". This sentence struck a chord for me:
> 
> "A suitable data structure for basic blocks is a linked list, such as this ..." (the book then shows a C struct)
> 
> A suitable data structure ... 
> 
> Hmm, that's an interesting expression. Suppose that instead of basic blocks, I have book data - title, author, publisher, etc. What is a "suitable data structure" for that? Well, obviously XML!
> 
> Is XML a data structure?
> 
> /Roger
> 
> [1] "Introduction to Compiling Techniques" by J.P. Bennett, page 166.
> 
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• References:
  • Is XML a "data structure"?
    • From: Roger L Costello <costello@mitre.org>