HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language) are both markup languages used in webD, but they serve different purposes and consist of distinct characteristics. HTML is primarily used to create the structure and content of web pages, allowing developers to format text, embed images, and create links. XML, on the other hand, is designed to store and transport data, with a focus on defining custom tags that are both machine-readable and human-readable.
In this blog, we will explain the difference between HTML and XML, along with their features, pros, and cons.
To learn more, read the blog for more details.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is used to create web pages and other info that can be displayed in a web browser. It provides a means to describe the structure and layout of a document using a set of tags and attributes. The web browsers later interpret them to display the content correctly. HTML is the backbone of web pages and is used with other technologies, such as CSS and JavaScript, to create dynamic and interactive websites.
HTML documents are plain text files with the .html or .htm file extensions. They are written using a simple syntax that is easy to understand and use. The basic structure of an HTMLdocument includes -
A DOCTYPE declaration, which defines the version of HTML being used
A head section, which contains meta-info about the document
A body section that contains the content displayed in the web browser
Features of HTML
HTML is a user-friendly and simple language. HTML tags make it easier for programmers to create structures. There are numerous built-in tags that make it easy to understand the material and design it to our convenience
Using HTML, we can easily add videos, audio, and photographs to our website. To show media, tags such as video>, audio>, figure>, and img> can be used
We can optimize our HTML sites for searchability because HTML is very well-structured. Using web crawlers, search engines can collect data from the World Wide Web and map keywords to their associated documents
HTML may be used to create basic 2D and 3D games. To construct and design good games, use the canvas> tag in conjunction with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript
HTML is platform-independent, as web pages may be viewed in a browser on any operating system, including macOS, Windows, and others
What is XML?
XML stands for EXtensible Markup Language. It is used to store and transport data. It is similar to HTML in that it uses tags to define elements within the data. Still, unlike HTML, the tags used in XML can be defined by the developer, allowing for flexibility in how the data is structured.
XML is often used with other techs, such as XSLT (a language used to transform XML data) and XPath (a language used to navigate and select elements within an XML document). This is done in order to create powerful and flexible data processing systems.
Features of XML
Plain text is used to store XML data. This allows for data storage that is independent of software and hardware. This greatly simplifies the creation of data that may be shared by other apps.
Data can be saved in a number of XML files using XML. As a result, you won't have to alter HTML to make changes to underlying data, allowing you to concentrate on using HTML/CSS for presentation and style.
A DTD or an XML schema can be used to validate XML document. By doing so, the XML document is assured to be syntactically correct, and any problems caused by defective XML are avoided.
XML simplifies data availability, platform updates, data transmission, and data sharing. XML makes it easier to upgrade or extend to new operating systems, programs, or browsers without losing data.
Difference between HTML vs XML
The following table describes the significant difference between HTML and XML.
Parameters
HTML
XML
Definition
HTML is primarily used for creating web pages and displaying data on web browsers.
XML is used for storing and transporting data between systems and apps
Usage
HTML uses a tree structure to organize elements and content.
XML uses a more flexible structure that allows for multiple parent-child relationships.
Optimization
HTML is optimized for rendering and display.
XML is optimized for data storage and manipulation.
Compare
HTML is less verbose than XML, as it does not require closing tags or attribute names to be defined for every element.
XML is more verbose than HTML, as it does require closing tags or attribute names to be defined for every element.
Languages
It is typically used with other languages, such as JavaScript and CSS, to create interactive and visually appealing web pages.
It is often used with other techs, such as XSLT and XPath, to transform and query data.
Client/Server side
It is primarily used on the client side.
It is often used on both the client and server side.
Size
HTML documents are usually smaller in size than XML documents because they contain less info.
XML documents are usually larger in size than HTML documents because they contain more info.
Advantages of HTML
It's a widely supported and well-established technology: HTML is supported by all modern web browsers, so there's no need to worry about compatibility issues when creating a website.
It's easy to learn and use: HTML has a relatively simple syntax that is easy to understand, even for beginners.
It allows for semantic markup: HTML5 introduced new tags and attributes that allow for more semantic and structured markup. Thus making it easier to create web pages that are accessible, searchable, and more usable.
It's a lightweight language: HTML pages have a smaller file size, which makes them load faster.
SEO friendly: Search engine crawlers can easily read and understand the structure and content of a web page written in HTML. This can help to improve the website's visibility on search engine results.
Disadvantages of HTML
Limited design capabilities: HTML is primarily used for marking up the structure and layout of a web page, but it has limited capabilities when designing a web page's appearance.
Limited interactivity: HTML alone is not suitable for creating interactive web pages. It requires additional techs like JavaScript to provide interactivity.
Browser compatibility issues: Different web browsers may interpret HTML differently. Thus there can be compatibility issues and inconsistencies in how a web page is displayed.
It's not a programming language: HTML is a markup language, not a programming language. Hence, it doesn't have the same capabilities as JavaScript or Python.
Limited security: HTML doesn't provide built-in security features, so using other techs like HTTPS and JavaScript to secure web pages is essential.
Advantages of XML
Flexibility: XML allows developers to create their tags, which provides a high degree of flexibility in managing the data.
Open standard: XML is an open standard, which means that any one company or organization does not control it. This allows for wide use and adoption across different platforms and systems.
Platform-independent: XML is platform-independent. Therefore the data stored in an XML format can be easily shared and exchanged between different systems and apps.
Extensibility: XML is extensible, meaning new tags and elements can be added later.
Support: There are many tools and libraries to work with XML, including parsers, validators, and transformation engines.
Disadvantages of XML
Complexity: XML can be complex, especially when dealing with large, deeply nested documents.
Performance: XML parsing and processing can be relatively slow compared to other data formats, such as JSON.
Verbosity: XML requires a lot of characters and can make the data file larger than other formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use XML over HTML?
XML is readily available and understandable even by beginners, and it is no more complex to code than HTML. XML is 100% portable and totally compatible with Java. Your data can be accessed by any application that can process XML, regardless of platform.
What is the main difference between HTML and XML Brainly?
The primary distinction between HTML and XML is that HTML shows data and explains the structure of a webpage, whereas XML stores and transfers data. XML is a standard language that can define additional computer languages, whereas HTML is a predefined language with its own consequences.
Is an HTML file XML?
No, even though both employ markup language, an HTML file is not an XML file. XML is a general-purpose data representation standard, whereas HTML is created primarily for web content.
Is XML more powerful than HTML?
XML focuses on data transfer rather than the appearance or presentation of the result. Because HTML concentrates on presentation and includes sophisticated coding, this makes XML simple to use.
Conclusion
HTML structures and displays web content using predefined tags focused on presentation, making it ideal for creating web pages. XML, designed for data storage and transport, allows custom tag creation to define data meaning. While HTML is best for visual content, XML excels in data exchange, offering flexibility and structure in data management across systems.
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