Design goals for XML

  • XML shall be straightforwardly usable over the Internet.

  • XML shall support a wide variety of applications.

  • XML shall be compatible with SGML.

  • It shall be easy to write programs which process XML documents.

  • The number of optional features in XML is to be kept to the absolute minimum, ideally zero.

  • XML documents should be human-legible and reasonably clear.

  • The XML design should be prepared quickly.

  • The design of XML shall be formal and concise.

  • XML documents shall be easy to create.

  • Terseness in XML markup is of minimal importance.