About RSS

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is an efficient way to stay current on information that is available over the Internet. Most websites and blogs that update their information frequently provide RSS feeds to which you can subscribe. After you subscribe to an RSS feed for a particular website, any new information added to the website will automatically download to the RSS reader that you have selected to compile your RSS feeds. You can then go to one place (your RSS reader) to view updated information for all of your favorite websites.

Function

You can use RSS to receive current updates from websites that have frequently changing information, such as a news website or a blog. After you subscribe to an RSS feed for a particular site, your RSS reader will display updated information from that website. You can then read the updated information through the RSS reader and click on the link provided in the RSS reader to go to the website to read more.

Significance

Signing up for an RSS feed to your favorite websites or blogs enables you to keep track of updated information without having to visit each site on a regular basis. Updated information from frequently changing websites comes directly to you so that it is available the next time you check your RSS reader. You can skim over the information downloaded into the RSS reader and then click on the link to go to the website for further information, if desired.

Benefits

If you enjoy reading several websites with frequently changing information or blogs but do not have the time to visit each website or blog on a regular basis, RSS enables you to keep track of what is going on with each website by only checking one place. Rather than having to go out searching for updated information, the updated information comes directly to you at the place of your choosing. You can skim over the updated information and decide whether you want to read further. You can also tell by looking in one place whether any updated information has been added to your favorite websites.

Features

If a website provides an RSS feed, it will display an orange and white box next to the field for the URL for the website you are visiting. (See the image provided with this article for a sample.) Just click on the orange and white box to subscribe to the RSS feed. You will be asked where to send the RSS feed. You can choose from several different places, such as Google, Yahoo or Bloglines to store your RSS feeds.

Type

RSS feeds can be stored in a number of places called RSS readers. Some of the most popular include Google, Yahoo and Bloglines. For example, Google will set up a home page for you that includes the RSS feeds to which you subscribe. You can check for updated information by viewing your Google home page each time you open your browser. Other popular RSS readers include NetNews Wire (Mac), SharpReader (Windows) and Liferea (Linux). See the Resources section for a link to more information on RSS readers.

Resources

• More information on RSS Readers