XML databases allow data to be stored in XML format, which is flexible and widely used for exchanging data. There are two types: XML-enabled and native XML databases. Native XML databases store semi-structured information and use XQuery for flexible queries. They are used by organizations to efficiently process and reuse data for various business objectives.
An eXtensible Markup Language (XML) database is a software system that allows data to be stored in XML format. XML is a meta-markup language used to manage data that uses user-customizable tags to organize information. The flexibility of the language, which allows for the creation of customized data structures and organizational systems, has led to its widespread use for exchanging data in multiple forms. XML databases are often used in applications such as information portals, document exchanges and product catalogues.
It is generally considered more cost-effective for data conversion to use an XML database due to the widespread use of this language in data transport. There are two main categories of these databases: XML-enabled databases and native XML databases (NXD). Each type of XML database is used to store different types of data.
An XML-enabled database pipes data into a traditional relational database in an XML format. The data is translated for storage and returned to its initial format upon output. This type of database is used to store data-centric documents that include highly structured information, such as patient records, and only use XML for data transfer.
Native XML databases store XML documents as a whole, rather than separate data within them, and are designed to store semi-structured information, such as marketing brochures or healthcare data. XML documents that contain semi-structured data are referred to as document-centric. A native XML database does not conform to a certain physical storage model, being able to use relational, hierarchical, or object-oriented structures, as well as custom storage formats. It manages documents by grouping them into logical collections and can set up and manage multiple collections at the same time. This type of database allows the user to store any type of XML document, regardless of structure, within the same collection. Queries can be built across the entire collection, generally making data organization and manipulation more flexible.
An XML database uses a special programming language designed specifically for extracting and manipulating XML documents, known as XQuery. The purpose of XQuery is to enable the construction of flexible queries that can extract and manipulate information from XML documents, as well as other sources that can be translated into XML. Some applications where XQuery can be used include searching text documents on the web for relevant data and compiling the results, extracting data from databases for use in application integration, and generating reports on data contained in an XML database.
XML databases are often used by organizations that need to manage complex and varied content, enabling them to efficiently process and reuse data for various business objectives. The flexibility of XML documents and databases allows organizations to store and manipulate data across different platforms and software environments. Documents can be created and managed so that the same information can be used in different projects, such as manuals or product catalogs, as well as providing multiple output formats to meet different end-user needs.
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