9.1. What Is RSS?

RSS is a format used by content providers to publish content. Originally, RSS stood for Rich Site Summary, but with the release of the RSS 2.0 spec in 2002, the name was changed to Really Simple Syndication.

RSS simplifies publishing by providing a standardized, no-frills approach to releasing content. No formatting is included with an RSS entry; only the content is sent. This allows for RSS aggregators, commonly referred to as feed readers, to accept and display RSS feeds from any number of sites in a uniform, easy-to-read manner.

The RSS format is built in XML, which learn more about in the next section.

9.1.1. What Is XML?

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. In the context of programming, extensible means that the developer can define the markup elements. This might sound odd, but it's actually incredibly useful.

XML is, on a basic level, extremely simple. In a parallel with HTML, XML information is enclosed in tags; however, you can name the tags anything you want, and these tags are basically labels for the enclosed information.

For example, assume you want to send personal information about someone via XML. The markup might read as follows:

<person>
    <name>Jason</name>
    <age>24</age>
    <gender>male</gender>
</person>

The benefit of XML is that it's easy to read. Take another look at the information in the preceding example—you don't need to be an XML expert to understand what the markup means. In the next section, you'll learn how RSS uses XML to syndicate content.