What is "XML interfaces"?

[David List]

I'm working on a analyzation/design project that is supposed to uncover the intricacies and implications in entering the market for systems used by public administrations here in Denmark.

XML and its use is a very important part of constructing such a system, since it is advised and specified from higher levels that systems of this kind should make use of XML as basis for exchange of documents.

In the documents and specifications describing this, there is a term that comes up quite often: "XML interfaces". Unfortunately, none of the authors of these documents have bothered to explain or specify what an "XML interface" is, which means that both I, and the rest of the group working on the project, have tried avoiding the work parts of the project in which we need to work with interfaces.

We cannot avoid it any longer, however, and we still haven't found a reasonable explanation for the term. Can anyone here point out some information for us that could clarify the subject?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ashmodai]

David List scribbled something along the lines of:

In the documents and specifications describing this, there is a term that comes up quite often: "XML interfaces". Unfortunately, none of the authors of these documents have bothered to explain or specify what an "XML interface" is

<snip/>

It might help if you could give some actual quotes as I personally do not know of an establish term "XML interfaces" either and think it might be an author specific phrase to describe something in particular. XML itself has no interface as it is just a way to store data. XML editors have interfaces and you can create interfaces using XML source files, but neither of these seem to be the intended meaning the authors might have had in mind.

If you haven't yet, try reading through the docs without focussing on the meaning of that phrase too much, the context might eventually give clues as to what is tried to describe using that phrase.

Just a suggestion.

 

[GIMME]

I haven't heard the term "XML interfaces" in XML literature.

The term "interfaces" often refers to batch processes.
An "XML interface" would refer to a batch process where XML is used as the protocol to fetch the data from one data source and to insert some of that data to another data source. (The batch process interfaces two systems.)

In a java sense of the word, an "XML interface" might refer to a set of DTDs agreed upon by a consortium. For example HRXML is a set of DTD created by a consortium of companies. Some of their DTDs are publically available.

 

[David List]

I haven't heard the term "XML interfaces" in XML literature.

The term "interfaces" often refers to batch processes.
An "XML interface" would refer to a batch process where XML is used as the protocol to fetch the data from one data source and to insert some of that data to another data source. (The batch process interfaces two systems.)

That would make sense in this context.

In a java sense of the word, an "XML interface" might refer to a set of DTDs agreed upon by a consortium.

Or a set of Schemas?

For example HRXML
is a set of DTD created by a consortium of companies. Some of their DTDs are publically available.

Thank you very much for your answer.

Best regards,
David List

 

[Andy Dingley]

In the documents and specifications describing this, there is a term that comes up quite often: "XML interfaces".

This is all too often a bullshit term from marketing. It's bullshit because XML -- of itself -- is not an interface. XML + an XML Schema may be an interface, if the schema is widely agreed outside the project. Without saying what this schema is though, there is no more a useful interface here than if they'd said "Now available in binary".

But, managers have pointy hair, and they fall for it. It's XML, it must be good.