W3C XML Activities
XML is designed to describe, store, transmit, and exchange data.
XML 1.0 is the latest version of XML.
XML Tutorial
For more information about XML, please read our XML Tutorial.
XML Versions
XML 1.0
As a W3C Recommendation, XML 1.0 was published on February 10, 1998.
XML 1.0 (Second Edition)
As a W3C Recommendation, XML 1.0 (Second Edition) was published on October 6, 2000.
The second edition was simply a correction (bug fixes) based on the errata sheet of the first edition.
XML 1.0 (Third Edition)
The second edition was simply a correction (bug fixes) based on the errata sheets of the first and second editions.
XML 1.1
As a working draft, XML 1.1 was published on December 13, 2001, and as a candidate recommendation on October 15, 2002.
XML 1.1 allows almost all Unicode characters to be used in names.
Other W3C XML Technologies
XML Namespaces (Namespaces)
XML namespaces can define a method for specifying the names of elements and attributes used in XML by associating them with URIs.
XML Linking (XLink, XPointer, and XML Base)
The XML Linking Language (XLink) allows you to insert links into XML documents.
The XML Pointer Language (XPointer) allows addresses to be linked to specific parts of an XML document.
XML Base is a standard for making default references to external XML resources. (Similar to <base> in HTML).
XInclude
XInclude is a mechanism that uses elements, attributes, and URIs to merge XML documents.
W3C XML Standards and Timeline
| Standard | Draft/Proposal | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| XML 1.0 | February 10, 1998 | |
| XML 1.0 (2.Ed) | October 6, 2000 | |
| XML 1.0 (3.Ed) | February 4, 2004 | |
| XML 1.1 | February 4, 2004 | |
| XML 1.1 (2.Ed) | August 16, 2006 | |
| XML 1.0 Namespaces | January 14, 1999 | |
| XML 1.0 Namespaces SE | March 4, 2004 | |
| XML 1.1 Namespaces | March 4, 2004 | |
| XML 1.1 Namespaces SE | August 16, 2006 | |
| XML Infoset | October 24, 2001 | |
| XML Infoset (2.Ed) | February 4, 2004 | |
| XML Base | June 27, 2001 | |
| XLink 1.0 | June 27, 2001 | |
| XPointer Framework | March 25, 2003 | |
| XPointer element() scheme | March 25, 2003 | |
| XPointer xmlns() scheme | March 25, 2003 | |
| XInclude 1.0 | December 20, 2004 | |
| XInclude 1.0 SE | November 15, 2006 | |
| XML Processing Model | April 5, 2004 | |
| XMLHttpRequest Object | August 3, 2010 |
