Some Basic Rules

• Elements are flexible.
  • Elements can contain other elements and character data.
  • Elements are inherently ordered
  • Text data can be lengthy
• Use Attributes for Metadata

  <quote>
    <company>YHOO</company>
    <date>2008-10-20</date>
    <close curr="USD">12.86</close>
    <volume>49985</volume>
  </quote>

• Attributes are "cheaper" than elements (space and time)
• Attribute Limitations
  • unordered
  • length
  • can't contain markup