Why use XML instead of Comma Separated Values (CSV) or ASCII text?
XML has these advantages over CSV and ASCII text Flexibility: The use of user defined elements and the hierarchical structure of information means XML is a valuable tool for describing information and its structure. As well, XML makes it easy to add new elements as required. Clarity Because data is enclosed within tags, the context of the data is less ambiguous. If an element identifies data, software can be designed to extract just the specific information that is needed. Error Detection If a field is missing from a list of CSV’s or string of ASCII text, it is very difficult to determine which field is missing or malformed. Data enclosed within elements can be validated for data type, length and hierarchy.
