How to Use the Parse Tag in XML

XML is an acronym for the eXtensible Markup Language. It is markup language because it uses the angled bracket tags like you see in HTML. It is extensible because you can create your own meaningful and application specific tag names, unlike HTML. Entire libraries of user-made tags have been created. Some of them are specific to a particular industry or body of knowledge, like MathML--the XML language for describing mathematical expressions in web pages. Some of them add various functionality to help process XML, like the JSTL XML tag library from Sun Microsystems. This tag library contains an XML Parse Tag. Parsing is the process of transforming the input data into structured output that is useful in the context where it is applied.

Things You'll Need

• An XML parser

Instructions

Create the Required Files

1. Create an XML document using either a text editor or an XML development environment. For example:
   



2. Create an XSLT file that can be used to contain the Parse tag. For example:
   
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
 
  
  
 


3. Use the Parse Tag in XML.

   Add a Parse tag from the JSTL library to your XSLT file. For example:
   
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">







Tips & Warnings

• Most modern Internet browsers have a built in XML parser and can be used to view XML files.

• XML documents must be both valid and well formed to be interpreted correctly by an XML parser.

Resources

• WC3 XML Specification