Introduction à XML

by Erik T. Ray

Although Learning XML covers XML rather broadly, it nevertheless presents the key elements of the technology with enough detail to familiarize the reader with this crucial markup language. This guide is brief enough to tackle in a weekend. Author Erik T. Ray begins with an excellent summary of XML's history as an outgrowth of SGML and HTML. He outlines very clearly the elements of markup, demystifying concepts such as attributes, entities, and namespaces with numerous clear examples. To illustrate a real-world XML application, he gives the reader a look at a document written in DocBook--a publicly available XML document type for publishing technical writings--and explains the sections of the document step by step. A more simplified version of DocBook is used later in the book to illustrate transformation--a powerful benefit of XML. The all-important Document Type Definition (DTD) is covered in depth, but the still-unofficial alternative, XML Schema, is only briefly addressed. The author makes liberal use of graphics, tables, and code to demonstrate concepts along the way, keeping the reader engaged and on track. Ray also goes deep into some discussion of programming XML utilities with Perl. Learning XML is a very readable introduction to XML for readers with existing knowledge of markup and Web technologies. It meets its goals very well--to deliver a broad perspective of XML and its potential. --Stephen W. Plain Topics XML overview XPointer XLink XHTML Presentation with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Document Type Definitions (DTDs) XML Schemas Transformation with XSLT Internationalization Simple API for XML (SAX)

Genres: Programming, Computers, Technical, Reference, Nonfiction, Technology, Computer Science

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Nick Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather incomplete and example- rather than axiom-based, this book did little but confuse me and send me lurching back to the web. I believe I acquired it via trading a six-pack of Newcastle to David Maynor many years ago, as I'd never have bought a computer book so clearly non-mathematical in its leanings. Furthermore, the author is Eric T. Ray, which is a bit too close -- a single-step translation and a contiguous deletion of degree 4, as we say in the protein-sequencing racket -- to venerable blowhard Eric S. Raymond for comfort.

Eschew it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently dove into a web development project using XML for the first time and gleaned a lot from various tutorials on the web and other Googling. This book was what brought all that together in my brain and helped me solidify my understanding of XML, especially the nuances of XPath. I haven't read it all the way through but it serves as an excellent reference for me as I learn and experience more about XML technology.

[laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good introduction to XML and transformations, but some of the explanations were backwards (i.e. starting with how to do something rather than what it describes). Some of his information went too in-depth and a bit off-topic (e.g. spending too many pages describing css). Otherwise, it really helped me better understand certain issues concerning XML creation.

[Volodymyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book describing XML from the beginning, its capabilities and limitations, overviewing basic XML-applications and technologies like XPath, XSLT etc. and different XML-processing tools to use in programs.

[Jennifer Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed like more of a reference book than a beginner book. Many of the examples made assumptions about your level of understanding with other programming languages. Some of the information was good, but I found myself using another beginning book and the web more often.

[TK Keanini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction as you would expect from O'Reilly

[Sasha]

Want to know what XML is? Here you go.

[Brendon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a history and basic specifications, but a lot of the information is out of date. Worth reading the first 3 chapters.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to XML and XML related technologies like DTDs, XML Schema, XSLT and XPath.

[Odile]

Reviewing skills from Library School. Shades of Jen Meyer!

[Scott Duede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this is considerably out of date, so the part about XSL will need to be supplemented. I'm tired of reading about document formatting right now, though, so that will have to wait.

[Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that explains XML in a way that actually makes sense.

[Don Massenzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great beginner's book. I was brand new to XML and this book helped me to systematically learn it and put it into practice.