XML Terminology

Hello,

is there a good source for terminology used in 
the area of XML?
I am just interested in the most common used terms for:

a) The language "XML Schema", 
   sometimes referred to as "XML Schema Definition Language" (XSDL).

b) An "XML Schema", like WSDL, HTML, ebXML, ....

c) An XML document which is conform to an XML schema, like
   "<html><body>Hello World</body></html>" is an XML document that is
conform
   to XML Schema HTML.

XSD is also an abbreviation (for what?) commonly used.
The usage of "XML Schema" both for the language an a specific definition
is confusing, that's why I am looking for good terms/abbreviations that
are hopefully most commonly used and understood.
It seems to me that there are no 'officially' released terms
(is my impression correct?).

Any comments about that?
(Please reply by Email since I am not subscibed to 'xmlschema-dev').

T.I.A.,
Jens.

PS: For a more detailed view on why I am interested about this,
    read my mail at the bottom to Liam.


-----Original Message-----
From: Liam Quin [mailto:liam@w3.org] 
Sent: Freitag, 8. März 2002 17:26
To: Stumpe, Jens
Subject: Re: XML Terminology


Jens,

A W3C XML Schema is an XML document that conforms to the W3C XML Schema
Recommendation.

XML Schema is usually short for, the XML Schema recommendation; it
can also be used to refer to other instances of schemata, such as
a RELAX-NG schema.

People using Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS, VMS or some other older
operating systems tend to have to give 3-letter filename extensions
to their documents, so .xsd is often used for a schema.  As a result,
people use XSD and XSDL interchangeably, confusingly.

If you need a more specific reply, you could maybe ask the
W3C schema group, but for a common practice answer, xml-dev might be
a better bet.

Liam

-- 
Liam Quin, W3C XML Activity Lead, liam@w3.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Stumpe, Jens 
Sent: Freitag, 8. März 2002 17:09
To: 'liam@w3.org'
Subject: XML Terminology


Hello Liam,

I have found your name at http://www.w3.org/XML/Activity.html
and have a question about XML terminology.

I'm responsible for technical online documentation at SAP
and currently write about an issue that uses XML technology
as a message format. I am a little bit confused about
the used terminology for 

a) The 'language' to describe a grammar, i.e., a class
   of XML documents (as a successor of DTDs).
   In W3Cs recommendation, the term "XML Schema" is used for that language.
 
b) Unfortunately, many people use this term when referring to 
   the thing that is described when using this language (a specific grammar)

   An XML schema = a grammar defined by XML Schema.

   (e.g., HTML can be seen to be an XML schema, WSDL is an XML schema).
   Compare title of http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/schemas.html

    The two meanings of "XML schema" (a+b) are a little bit confusing.
   
c) An XML document that is valid due to a Definition of XML Schema.

Furthermore, there are two abbreviations used in the XML community:

1) XSDL: "XML Schema Definition Language", refers to (a)
2) XSD:  "XML Schema Definition" (?), refers to (b);
         probably taken from XML Schemas namespace (xsd:...)

Is there an overview of officially valid terms or abbreviations
in the XML area? Are the abbreviations mentioned above valid officially?

Thank you in advance for any help about this.

Best regards,
Jens Stumpe
Product Management
Application Integration
SAP AG

Received on Friday, 8 March 2002 13:42:10 UTC