The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple, flexible text format derived from SGML (ISO 8879). The W3C created and maintains the XML specification. The W3C is also the primary center for developing other cross-industry specifications that are based on XML. Some of these are done within the XML Activity, such as XML Query and XML Schema, and some (such as SVG) in other W3C areas. The XML Activity tries to keep a balance between maintaining stability and backwards compatibility, making improvements that help to encourage interoperability, and bringing new communities into the world of XML.
Low W3C staff resources in the XML Activity means that much work is done without significant technical staff involvement.
Overall, XML has seen a resurgence in uptake, largely because of the publishing industry. Producing multiple output formats for documents, such as PDF, print, Web, EPUB and more, from the same input source, was one of the original design goals for XML, and the maturity of the XML toolchain has made it a good and safe choice. W3C has started work in the area of digital publishing as a separate Activity, but the XML work remains within the XML Activity.
XQuery 3.0 and XPath 3.0 were published as W3C Recommendations.
XQuery 3.1, XPath 3.1 and XSLT 3.0 have been published as Last Call Working Drafts.Upcoming Activity Highlights
XSLT 3 is attracting interest with streaming of large documents and the new packaging support. It is currently in Last Call. XQuery 3.1 and XSLT 3.0 also feature an increased level of support for working with the JSON format, including map and array data structures.
XProc, the the XML pipelining language, has been gaining industry traction; the Working Group is now chartered to produce a version 2.0.
Efficient XML (EXI) is used in places where it cannot be seen, such as between a computer and a digital camera; an EXI profile for memory-constrained devices was published, and a new EXI version may increase visibility.
The XML Core Working Group has taken on some work on XML Security, as well as continuing infrastructure-level work and also maintaining XML Schema.
| Group | Chair | Team Contact | Charter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient XML Interchange Working Group (participants) | Takuki Kamiya | Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 May 2015 |
| XML Coordination Group (participants) | Paul Grosso | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 May 2015 |
| XML Core Working Group (participants) | Paul Grosso, Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 May 2015 |
| XML Processing Model Working Group (participants) | Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 May 2016 |
| XML Query Working Group (participants) | Jim Melton, Andrew Coleman | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 May 2015 |
| XSLT Working Group (participants) | Sharon Adler | Liam Quin, Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 May 2015 |
This Activity Statement was prepared for TPAC 2014 per section 5 of the W3C Process Document. Generated from group data.
Liam R. E. Quin, XML Activity Lead
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