Expand the term XML.
Expand the term XML.
Official answer
XML stands for Extensible Markup Language.
It is a markup language, similar to HTML, used to store and transport data in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable, and it allows users to define their own custom tags.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark for correctly expanding XML as 'Extensible Markup Language'.
Hint
Think of the markup language that lets you design your own custom, self-descriptive tags for data exchange.
Quick oral answer
XML stands for Extensible Markup Language — a markup language that lets users define their own custom tags to store and exchange structured data.
Common mistakes
- 1.Writing 'Extended Markup Language' instead of the correct 'Extensible Markup Language'.
- 2.Confusing XML with HTML, which uses a fixed/predefined set of tags whereas XML allows user-defined tags.
Analysis and explanation
XML is one of the standard terms listed under Web Services in the Computer Networks unit, and CBSE regularly asks students to expand such acronyms as one-mark recall questions.
Concept
- XML (Extensible Markup Language) is designed to describe and structure data for storage and exchange between systems.
- Unlike HTML, which has a fixed set of predefined tags for displaying content, XML lets the document author define custom tags suited to the data being represented.
Exam trap
- Students often write 'Extended Markup Language' instead of 'Extensible Markup Language' — the correct word is 'Extensible' (meaning tags can be extended/customised), not 'Extended'.
Interesting facts
XML was released as a W3C Recommendation in February 1998 and was designed to be both human-legible and machine-readable.
Unlike HTML, XML has no predefined tags — the tag names are entirely defined by the document author, which is why XML is widely used in configuration files and data-interchange formats like RSS feeds.
Question details
Q19 of 48 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 12
- Subject
- Computer Science
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- Very Short Answer
- Chapter
- Computer Networks
- Topic
- XML
- Bloom's level
- remember
- Syllabus topic
- Unit 2: Computer Networks — Web Services and Markup Languages (XML)
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between XML and HTML?
HTML uses a fixed set of predefined tags meant for displaying web content, while XML allows users to define their own custom tags meant for describing and transporting structured data.
Where is XML commonly used?
XML is commonly used for data interchange between applications, configuration files, RSS/Atom feeds, and as the basis for other markup languages like SOAP and WSDL.