Question

Discuss an advantage and a disadvantage of using XML in health information systems. Explain the alternative file formats to XML and how they differ.

Answer 1

Ans) Disadvantages of XML:
- XML syntax is verbose and redundant compared to other text-based data transmission formats such as JSON.
- The redundancy in syntax of XML causes higher storage and transportation cost when the volume of data is large.
- XML document is less readable compared to other text-based data transmission formats such as JSON.

• Advantages of XML:
- XML uses human, not computer, language. XML is readable and understandable, even by novices, and no more difficult to code than HTML.
- XML is completely compatible with Java™ and 100% portable. Any application that can process XML can use your information, regardless of platform.
- XML is extendable.

• Difference:

- XML is abbreviation for eXtensible Markup Language whereas HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language.
- XML mainly focuses on transfer of data while HTML is focused on presentation of the data.
- XML is content driven‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ whereas HTML is format driven‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.
- XML is Case sensitive while HTML is Case insensitive.
- XML provides namespaces support while HTML doesn't provide namespaces support.
- XML is strict for closing tag while HTML is not strict.
- XML tags are extensible whereas HTML has limited tags.
- XML tags are not predefined whereas HTML has predefined tags.