Prior Disadvantage
PROBLEM:
- Although SGML encoding of files allowed for more complex formatting and navigation than did HTML, a
special proprietary SGML-capable browser was required to take advantage of the capabilities of EAD-encoded documents. This browser was necessary to allow the documents to be displayed and searched in conjunction with auxiliary files, including a style sheet, navigator, and the document type definition.
SOLUTION:
- XML: A simplified subset of SGML designed so that generic SGML might be served, received, and processed on the WWW in
a non-proprietary vehicle, the same way as HTML.
- XML retains the sophisticated data structuring and validation of SGML, while eliminating many of the options that complicate the development of SGML browsers.
- Both Microsoft and Netscape incorporated XML into their internet browsers
(beginning with Netscape 5 and Explorer 5)
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