很多人知道xml是组织数据的一门标记语言，但是xml能够干什么呢？下面一段话总结得不错：

XML is already being
used for publishing, as well as for data storage and retrieval, data interchange
between heterogeneous platforms, data transformations, and data displays.

使用xml有什么好处呢：

The benefits of using XML vary but, overall, marked-up data and the ability to
read and interpret that data provide the following benefits:
v With XML, applications can more easily read information from a variety of
platforms. The data is platform-independent, so now the sharing of data
between you and your customers can be simplified.
v Companies that work in the business-to-business (B2B) environment are
developing DTDs and schemas for their industry. The ability to parse
standardized XML documents gives business products an opportunity to be
exploited in the B2B environment.
v XML data can be read even if you do not have a detailed picture of how that
data is structured. Your clients will no longer need to go through complex
processes to update how to interpret data that you send to them because the
DTD or schema gives the ability to understand the information.
v Changing the content and structure of data is easier with XML. The data is
tagged so you can add and remove elements without impacting existing
elements. You will be able to change the data without having to change the
application.

呵呵，先记着。边学习边体会吧。