History and usage

SGML (the Standard Generalized Markup Language) has, at the time of writing, been in existence for over 15 years. The developers of the XML language used their experience of SGML to determine the shape and scope of the new language, and there are therefore many similarities. However, SGML is also a larger (some would say more unwieldy) language.

Due to the complexity of SGML, and the consequential expense of implementing a system based around this format, relatively few organizations have adopted it for document storage, publishing and interchange. Initially, it was almost totally confined to use in government organizations and large publishers. As supporting tools became more affordable, and more mature, SGML branched out into new domains and became a popular solution for some demanding publishing needs.