Menu
This is something that I always find a bit hard to explain to others: Why do XML namespaces exist? When should we use them and when should we not? What are the common pitfalls when working with namespaces in XML?
Also, how do they relate to XML schemas? Should XSD schemas always be associated with a namespace?
875
Just like namespaces in . NET, namespaces in XML documents are designed to help prevent and resolve name collisions, especially if XML documents are from different organizations and/or domains of knowledge.
[Definition:] An XML namespace is a collection of names, identified by a URI reference [RFC2396], which are used in XML documents as element types and attribute names.
XML namespaces are used for providing uniquely named elements and attributes in an XML document. They are defined in a W3C recommendation. An XML instance may contain element or attribute names from more than one XML vocabulary.
They're for allowing multiple markup languages to be combined, without having to worry about conflicts of element and attribute names.
For example, look at any bit of XSLT code, and then think what would happen if you didn't use namespaces and were trying to write an XSLT where the output has to contain "template", "for-each", etc, elements. Syntax errors, is what.
I'll leave the advice and pitfalls to others with more experience than I.
96
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With
