The information contained in this chapter describes the core of XML as a technology. A familiarity with elements and attributes is essential for understanding the remaining technologies in this book.
In these roadmap sections, we intend to give you some insight into how the technology presented in the chapter relates to the other technologies presented in this book, and other technologies you might encounter as you continue to explore XML. However, with the focus on XML 1.0, the information you've just seen applies to any technology related to XML.
As we begin to look at DTDs and XML Schemas, you will need to have an understanding of XML 1.0, because both DTDs and Schemas are used to author the rules that you will use to validate your XML documents.
Namespaces play a vital part in XML 1.0, in enabling you to create your own XML vocabularies, and helping to avoid incompatibilities with other XML vocabularies you might also be using.
The stylesheet technologies presented with CSS, XSL, and XSLT are all related to enabling you to display the contents of your XML files with some level of graphic design. Additionally, XSL and XSLT are actually technologies written in XML themselves, so understanding XML 1.0, relates directly to understanding how to write your own XSL and XSLT Stylesheets.
The linking and locating technologies of XPath, XLink, XBase, and XInclude were all created to add functionality to XML, which was not provided in the XML 1.0 Recommendation. As your XML projects become more complex, you will want to make use of these technologies to accomplish all of your development goals with XML. The same holds true of XQuery, which is a technology designed to assist you with searching your XML documents.
XHTMLA rewrite of HTML with XML well-formedness constraints in mind.
WMLThe Wireless Markup Language uses XML to create a language for increasing Web browsing and communication over wireless technologies.
SVGThe Scalable Vector Graphics language uses XML as a base for defining a new, vector-based graphic language for the Web.
SMILSynchronized Multimedia Integration Language is another XML vocabulary designed to bring new levels of multimedia authoring and integration to the Web.
RDFResource Description Framework is an XML vocabulary designed to catalog and describe Web resources to help manage the wealth of information available online.
XFormsAn XML-based method for describing forms designed to move beyond the current capabilities of HTML forms.
At the core of all these technologies is the well-formed and valid XML as defined in the XML 1.0 Recommendation. A mastery of elements and attributes will open the door to dozens of exciting new technologies that will change the way you develop for the World Wide Web.