Classification of XML Parsers

Sean Mc Grath (digitome@iol.ie)
Fri, 12 Dec 1997 09:20:24 +0000

The real truth behind XML's simplicity and ease of implementaton is being badly
let down by the haziness with with parsers are classified:-

Well Formed
Valid
Type Valid (In the DOM level 1 spec.)
Tag Valid (ditto)
DTD Aware (Aelfred)

Then there is a bevvy of terminology to do with what the parsers do and do
not provide
the application
- Comments
- Expansion of general entities
- Access to element type declarations

etc.

Given that it is on this list that most of the implementors hang out I think
we could
usefully attempt to put together a classification.

Also, from a quick reading of the DOM there does not seem to be a node type
for unexpanded
general entity. How come?

Sean Mc Grath

sean@digitome.com
Digitome Electronic Publishing
http://www.digitome.com