About the course
This two-day course provides a comprehensive introduction to XML for beginners. We will go beyond a simple definition of XML and dive into the practical aspects of reading, writing, and understanding XML documents.
The course emphasizes its continued relevance in modern software development, focusing on key technologies that rely on it, such as configuration files, enterprise messaging, and data serialization.
You will learn how to parse and validate XML, transform it into other formats, and work with modern toolchains, preparing them for real-world development scenarios.
Instructor-led online and in-house face-to-face options are available - as part of a wider customised training programme, or as a standalone workshop, on-site at your offices or at one of many flexible meeting spaces in the UK and around the World.
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- Understand the fundamental syntax and structure of well-formed XML documents.
- Differentiate between well-formed and valid XML.
- Write and interpret XML schemas using both DTDs and XML Schema Definition (XSD).
- Use XPath to navigate and query XML documents.
- Transform XML into other formats like HTML or plain text using XSLT.
- Grasp the concepts of XML parsing and how it's used in modern applications.
- Understand XML's role in modern enterprise systems and its relationship with other technologies.
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This course is for software developers, system administrators, and technical professionals who are new to XML or need a refresher on its modern usage. It is particularly useful for those working with enterprise systems, web services, or data integration.
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Participants should have a basic understanding of computer science concepts. No prior experience with XML is required.
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This XML course is available for private / custom delivery for your team - as an in-house face-to-face workshop at your location of choice, or as online instructor-led training via MS Teams (or your own preferred platform).
Get in touch to find out how we can deliver tailored training which focuses on your project requirements and learning goals.
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The fundamentals of XML
What is XML? A simple explanation of XML as a markup language for structured data.
XML Syntax: The rules for writing well-formed XML, including elements, attributes, and comments.
XML vs. HTML: Understanding the key differences and why XML is not for display.
The XML Document Structure: A walkthrough of the common components of an XML document.
Hands-on Lab: Creating your first well-formed XML document.
The importance of Validation
Why Validate? The difference between well-formed and valid XML.
Document Type Definition (DTD): A basic look at the original method for validating XML documents.
XML Schema Definition (XSD): A detailed exploration of XSD, the modern and more powerful way to define an XML's structure, data types, and constraints.
Hands-on Lab: Writing an XSD for your XML document and validating it.
Querying and navigating XML
XPath: A deep dive into XML Path Language.
Navigating the Tree: How to use XPath to select elements and attributes based on their path.
Advanced XPath: Using predicates, wildcards, and functions to create complex queries.
Hands-on Lab: Writing XPath queries to extract specific data from a sample XML document.
Transforming XML
XSLT: An introduction to Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations.
The Power of Transformation: How XSLT is used to transform XML into HTML, plain text, or other XML formats.
Applying a Stylesheet: A walkthrough of the process of linking an XML document to an XSLT stylesheet.
Hands-on Lab: Creating an XSLT file to transform XML data into a basic HTML table.
Parsing and Real-World Applications
XML Parsers: An overview of how applications read and process XML.
Parsing Approaches: A comparison of SAX (Simple API for XML) and DOM (Document Object Model).
Modern Usage Scenarios:
Configuration Files: Using XML for application and system configuration.
Enterprise Integration: XML's role in protocols like SOAP and enterprise messaging.
Document Markup: Its continued importance in formats like Microsoft Office Open XML (.docx) and Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG).
Hands-on Lab: Using a programming language (e.g., Python, C#, or Java) to read data from an XML file.
Review and Future of XML
XML Ecosystem: A summary of the core technologies.
The Role of XML Today: Discussing when to use XML versus other formats like JSON.
Final Q&A: An open discussion on participants' specific use cases and questions.
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W3C (World Wide Web Consortium): This is the official body that develops the XML standard. Their site contains all the specifications for XML, XSD, XSLT, and XPath.
VS Code XML Tools Extension: This is the top-rated extension for Visual Studio Code, providing essential features like formatting, validation, and schema support.
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