What is the purpose of the orange XML button?
I have read the story about the XML button at macro.antville.org. It explains that "the button links to a document that contains all the stories that are visible on the main page of a site but without any layout information (except for what was put into the stories)." What is the point of linking to stories without layout?
The story explained that having stories stripped of their layout, allows stories to be syndicated across the web which is an admirable aim, but what is the purpose of the link? Is it required for "RSS feeds"?
BTW, I have also seen a blue XML button on other sites. What does a blue XML button mean or does the colour not matter?
John
xyll
A link, generally speaking, tells people where to find stuff. It's like a road sign that indicates where a town lies. The town will be there even if you don't put a road sign. If you paint the road sign in some unusual color, you risk confusing people, but again, the town will still be there.
nex
Just click the link, it doesn't bite. You'll get something that identifies itself as an 'RDF' document, which also babbles something about 'RSS'. Mr. Google will tell you what this all means and what it's good for.
What is RDF?
What is RSS?
I have no idea why many sites use the orange button that says 'XML'. It doesn't make any sense. Well, I do have an idea; I guess it's because XML is cool. *rolls eyes* MT sites typically have those neat 'RSS' buttons.