XML is a markup language that lets you turn your documents from a static file into a repository of information that you can display and work with in many different ways.

If you've been reading any of the headlines you'd think that XML is the greatest invention since auto-start coffee makers. It's being touted as the wave of the future and the greatest, newest invention.

XML is a way of adding intelligence to your documents. It lets you identify each element using meaningful tags and it lets you add information ("metatdata") about each element.