Extensible Markup Language (XML)

Extensible Markup Language (XML)Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a flexible text format for storing and exchanging data in a structured way. In the SEO context, the XML sitemap is best known.Open glossary entry → is an extensible markup format that stores data in a clearly structured, machine-readable form. Using freely definable tags, information can be organised hierarchically so that different systems can exchange it reliably.

In search engine optimisationSearch Engine Optimization (SEO) covers all measures that help a website become more visible in unpaid (organic) search results.Open glossary entry →, the most important application is the XML sitemapAn XML sitemap is a machine-readable file listing a website's important URLs. It helps search engines discover content more efficiently but does not replace internal linking or guarantee indexing.Open glossary entry →. It lists a website's URLs in a structured way and helps search engines find and classify pages. A sitemap can contain additional details, such as:

• the address (URL) of a page,
• the date of the last change,
• references to language variants.

XML differs from HyperText Markup Language (HTML)HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the markup language for web pages. It defines the structure and content of a page, such as headings, paragraphs, links and images.Open glossary entry →: HTML is geared towards displaying web pages, whereas XML is for the structured exchange of arbitrary data between systems. For configuration and data formats on the web, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight, text-based data format for storing and exchanging data. It is human-readable and easy for machines to process.Open glossary entry → is now also widely used alongside XML.