Beginning XML

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a rapidly maturing technology with powerful real-world applications, particularly for the management, display, and organization of data. Together with its many related technologies it is an essential technology for anyone using markup languages on the web or internally.

This book teaches you all you need to know about XML - what it is, how it works, what technologies surround it, and how it can best be used in a variety of situations, from simple data transfer to using XML in your web pages. It builds on the strengths of the first edition, and provides new material to reflect the changes in the XML landscape - notably SOAP and Web Services, and the publication of the XML Schemas Recommendation by the W3C.

This book covers:

XML syntax and writing well-formed XML
Using XML Namespaces
Transforming XML into other formats with XSLT
XPath and XPointer for locating specific XML data
XML Validation using DTDs and XML Schemas
Manipulating XML documents with the DOM and SAX 2.0
SOAP and Web Services
Displaying XML using CSS and XSL
Incorporating XML into tradition databases and n-tier architectures
XLink and XPointer for linking XML and non-XML resources

David Hunter is a Senior Architect for MobileQ, a leading mobile software solutions developer, and the first company to ship an XML-based mobility server. David has extensive experience building scalable applications, and provides training on XML.

For the past two years Jeff Rafter has worked with Standfacts Credit Services, developing XML interfaces for use in the mortgage industry. He also leads the XML development for Defined Systems, a web hosting.

Jonathan Pinnock spends most of his time developing and extending the increasingly successful PlatformOne product set that his company, JPA, markets to the financial services community. He seems to spend the rest of his time writing for Wrox.

Kurt Cagle is a writer and developer specializing in XML and Internet related issues. He has written eight books and more than one hundred articles on topics ranging from Visual Basic programming to the impact of the Internet on society, and has consulted for such companies as Microsoft, Nordstrom, AT&T and others.

Chris Dix specializes in Visual C++ development for Windows platforms. He's written articles for several magazines and contributes material on SOAP to VBXML.COM. Chris is Lead Developer for NavTraK, Inc., where he develops Web Services and Palm applications. He can be reached at cdix@navtrak.net.

Roger Kovack has recently consulted to Wells Fargo and Bank of America, developing departmental information systems on desktop and client/server platforms. He developed web applications for Commerce One and LookSmart.com. He was instrumental in bringing Java into those organizations to replace ASP and C++.