An xml schema is a file that is created to illustrate the contents of an xml document as well as dictate and lay down ground rules as to what can and cannot be included inside the xml file. These constraints are not just restricted to syntactical rules but can also specify what elements should be included, the order of these elements and child elements and so on.
An xml schema is a file that is created to illustrate the contents of an xml document as well as dictate and lay down ground rules as to what can and cannot be included inside the xml file. These constraints are not just restricted to syntactical rules but can also specify what elements should be included,
the order of these elements and child elements and so on.
Typically, an XSDL or XML Schema Definition Language is required to apply these rules on data elements in a XM file.
An XML Schema thus remains amazingly beneficial and also adaptable, assisting you to make incredibly complex and detailed data elements by specifying which elements within your data objects you may include or ought to include in your xml file, for example, the string, integers and the like.
A significant point to observe is that Schemas are also xml documents and so they may also have to be valid and in accordance with normal syntax along with rules of xml as well, also known as a schema specification as well as schema schema.
There are also extra meta languages which have been made purely to talk about XML schemas, including DTD, XML Schema and Relax NG. The latter two are significantly more superior and expressive than DTD, which happens to be actually quite constrained in terms of capacity.
To essentially link up your XML schema to your XML file (for validation functions and also to check the XML file is as per the actual requirements laid out in the XML schema, the specific process will depend on the schema language which you use, one example is it could be as basic as calling in the schema from within your xml file ie by adding the path via markup, also known as imbedding or it could be via another external method ie an xml schema validator, which may also be an online tool or even a desktop based software.
To work with and edit your XML schemas, you'll be able to utilize any of the free, open source and commercial XSD Editors which exist. They are available in a number of calibres, begining with the very basic and unimpressive capability and feature sets, to several of the high end editors that feature graphical xml / schema representation and editing, in addition to syntax highlighting and source / wysiwyg view.
For minimal xml work, notepad or notepad , both available for free are more than up to the task, however for more intense xml work, in particular development and professional xml coding, you should look at using a commercial xml / xsd editor which can help you quicken your development time as well as reduce errors in your code.
If you want to know more about xml schemas or are curious about finding sample xml schemas, consider reading a far more expert and thorough xml schema article for example the one here,
http://www.liquid-technologies.com/Tutorials/XmlSchemas/XsdTutorial_01.aspx, or perhaps check out wiki or the w3c website.
The W3 schools website delivers some terrific tutorials for newbies however if you might be a more advanced or intermediate programmer this site just isn't for you personally because the material is actually very basic and aimed towards novice learners.
