XML and E-Commerce

What is XML?

• XML means “Extensible Markup Language”

• extensible - not fixed format like HTML

• Enables you to define your own customized markup languages for different classes of documents

XML: General Overview

• XML, for its part, defines the internal semantic structure of a document; in other words, what is what.

• HTML defines how the information is displayed on the outside, while XML defines how the information is put together within the document.

• HTML is based upon predefined tags, XML provides flexibility through user-defined tags.

• Creating XML standards allows the seamless communication between multiple systems (including multiple systems in the same company or multiple systems communicating between different companies.

XML: The Current State

• XML is, and has been for the past two years, spreading rapidly through the e-commerce community.

• It is becoming the industry standard for the “behind the scenes” portion of e-commerce.

• Consolidation of multiple human-assisted-tasks into automated transactions. Cheaper, Faster, less Error-prone.

• Widespread vendor support from the major players:– Microsoft– IBM– Adobe– Netscape

XML: Behind the Scenes

• A consumer purchasing a single $5.00 item on the Internet consists of one B2C transaction, but consists of many B2B transactions.

• B2B transactions have previously been cumbersome and very resource intensive.

• Not only does XML allow for the B2C transaction to become more automated, but it allows for a fairly inexpensive solution to the problem of automating B2B transactions.

• Snowball effect, the same XML schema created for transactions between “Store A” and “Supplier X”, can also be used for transactions between “Store A” and “Supplier Y”…..

XML: Various Uses• * CML (Chemical Markup Language) For graphic rendering of the

molecular structure of chemical compounds

• * FIXML (Financial Information eXchange) - A markup language for the exchange of real-time stock trading information

• * HRMML (Human Resource Management Markup Language) - A markup language for the representation of resumes and job postings

• * MATHML (Mathematical Markup Language) - A language for display and presentation of mathematical equations and formulas.

• * MUSICML (Music Markup Language) - A markup language for publishing sheet music on the Web

XML: Various Uses• * OFX (Open Financial eXchange) - A standard for exchange of

financial data between financial institutions businesses, and customers

• * P3P (Platform for Privacy Preferences) - A markup language for exchanging privacy information between two organizations or individuals

• * RELML (Real Estate Listing Markup Language) - A language for presenting and exchanging real estate listing over the Internet

• * SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) - A markup language that allows synchronization of many multimedia sources in a single Web presentation.

• * WML (Wireless Markup Language) A markup language that defines how Web content is accessed and presented by small, handheld devices

XML: For IT Students

• As IT students, XML will provide opportunities down the road. As far as business and e-commerce goes, XML will prove to be a cost-saving tool. As it allows for fewer expenses it in turn allows for greater profits. When a technology means more profits, there will always be a demand for those who can implement that technology.