The file extension XML is defined as an Extensible Markup Language file which is used to create information formats that can be used across multiple platforms and the Internet. Extensible Markup Language is used to share data on the Internet, Local Area Networks, Intranets, and other types of communications in a common and consistent way.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a standard format which is similar to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and is a standard defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Both languages are used to create web pages and use markup language to define the components of a web page. Hypertext Markup Language has limitations where Extensible Markup Language can extend the capabilities of web page components.
The file extension XML is categorized as a data file type which contains structured Extensible Markup Language in a plain text format. The file is used to describe hierarchal information for a wide variety of applications. The applications include but are not limited to web applications, databases, website components, web development, and more. Each description is surrounded by tags which facilitate the transmission of data across a variety of platforms. This enables data to be easily exchanged over the Internet and in many other instances.
How to Open XML Files
Since XML files can be opened using multiple programs and applications, double click on the file to see if it will automatically open in a default program you have installed on your PC. XML files are a versatile file type, so you may already have a program which will open the file.
If you are using the Windows operating system, you can open the file extension XML with Microsoft Visual Studio, which is a development application used to create a variety of applications for computing and the World Wide Web. Microsoft Visual Studio is available in a paid version on the Microsoft website. You can also opt to use oXygen XML Editor which is available in a free trial version on the oXygen XML website or Microsoft XML Notepad 2007 which can be downloaded at no cost on the Microsoft website.
For Mac OS X, you can open the file extension XML using JAPISoft EditiX, which is an XML and Visual Schema editor available on the EditiX website. JAPISoft EditiX will also work with Windows and the Linux operating system as well. Mac users can also opt to use ElfData XML Editor which is available in a paid version on the ElfData website.
Since XML files are created in a plain text format, you can open and edit them using a variety of text editing applications. If you are using the Windows operating system, you can open and edit XML files with WordPad, Notepad, TextPad, or Microsoft Word. For Mac OS X, XML files can be opened using Apple TextEdit, MacroMates TextMate, BareBones Software BBEdit, Bean OS X, or MacVim. For the Linux operating system, you can use Leafpad, AbiSource AbiWord, gEdit, Pico, Nano Editor, or Vim to open and edit the contents of the file extension XML.
