XML, JSON, and YAML are the most popular data serialization languages used today.
This article will introduce each of them and highlight how they differ.
What Is XML?
This markup language is similar to HTML but does not have built-in tags.
Instead, it allows you to create custom tags that meet your demands.
We call these self-defined tags.
This markup language is self-descriptive, making it flexible and popular for arranging and structuring data across the internet.
Data shared using XML works on different platforms and suits various uses.
This makes XML an essential tool for data networking, transfer, and storage in multiple fields.
Such editors are widely accessible, support collaborative editing, and have built-in validation.
Heres an example of an XML file.
Advantages of XML
Here are some advantages of using XML:
What Is JSON?
JSON stands forJavaScript Object Notation.
It is a lightweight format for storing and transferring data.
Initially designed for JavaScript, JSON has gained popularity due to its simple structure.
It also supports arrays, using square brackets, and objects, using key-value pairs between curly braces.
Most programming languages have support for JSON.
Advantages of JSON
Here are a few advantages of JSON.
What Is YAML?
It is known for its simplicity compared to XML and JSON.
It uses indentation and newlines to separate data rather than symbols and brackets.
you could also use this language with other languages.
For example, you canwork with YAML files in Go.
It is not, however, very beginner-friendly.
This can lead to validation errors, for example, if you fail to indent your data correctly.
Ultimately, the choice between these formats depends on the specific requirements of your project.
