Amazon.com Review
Learning the basics of the XML language is one thing; understanding how it really can be used in today's commercial applications is quite another. The third edition of The XML Handbook compiles the XML strategies of over two dozen companies, to provide a unique look at how XML is being used right now.

Coauthored by Charles F. Goldfarb, the author of SGML--the parent markup specification of XML--this book comprises two parts. In the first, the XML language is explained in the broader context of SGML, and markup in general. The real heart of the book, however, is in part two. This much larger section is a collection of topical expositions on XML that are sponsored by companies such as Sun, IBM, Adobe, and Microsoft--giving the reader a look at a broad spectrum of XML strategies and uses.

The introductory chapters are written superbly from the perspective of true XML experts who understand its full context. For example, the book describes MOM and POP--message-oriented-middleware and presentation-oriented-publishing--the two seemingly opposite extremes of application types that are served by XML.

In the remaining bulk of the text, readers are treated to industry briefings on real-world XML application designs, ranging from online auctions to EDI and from health care applications to content management. Each sponsored chapter captures the flavor of the company's viewpoint of XML, and is well documented with diagrams and code examples where appropriate. Collectively, they stand as an unprecedented snapshot of real-world XML expertise. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• Markup
• Document Type Definitions (DTDs)
• Schemas
• Xpath
• XSL
• XSLT
• XLink
• XSDL
• Multimedia publishing
• E-business
• Personalization
• Online auctions
• Information servers
• Data exchange
• Collaboration
• Enterprise information portals (EIPs)
• Document conversion
• Vocabularies
• Topic maps