What is XML?

The 9 easy steps to understanding and using XML

This page is intended for people who just don't know how to get started with XML and XSLT.  If that's you, then welcome to this page!  By the end of the page you'll have everything you need to start working in XML and XSLT.  OK, let's get started with XML:

Start with this beginner XML article - it covers the basics
http://www.topxml.com/xml/learnxml.asp

Play a beginners game to understand the basics of XML!
http://www.topxml.com/learning/games/a/

For the next steps you will need to get the free 30 day trial of MarrowSoft Xselerator here:
http://www.topxml.com/xselerator   

You should also check that you have the right versions of MSXML installed.  Here is a page where you can check what you have installed (if you are using IE) and on this page you can download the different versions.

Good, now you have the basics of XML, let's work on what XSLT and XPath are:

Play a beginners game to understand XSLT
http://www.topxml.com/learning/games/c/default.asp

Now move onto what XSLT is
http://www.topxml.com/xsl/articles/xslt_what_about/31290101.asp

This is a fantastic tutorial which will get you started with XSLT and XPath
http://www.topxml.com/xsl/tutorials/intro/default.asp

OK, so now you have a grip on XML and XSLT, but you're wondering where the DOM fits into things?

Play this simple XML DOM game to understand what the DOM is
http://www.topxml.com/learning/games/b/

Sure, we've got  XML, XSLT and the DOM nailed, but what about Schemas?

Read this introduction to schemas
http://www.topxml.com/schema/articles/xmlschemas/default.asp

Keep on reading until it starts to make sense - by now you've got the basics of it all.  But there's still so much to learn!  It's time to write some XML and XSL code:

Use Xselerator to play with the free source code here:
http://www.topxml.com/code
and read these articles
http://www.topxml.com/articles

WOW!  I understand how to do this stuff!  What's next?

My last suggestion is to read LOTS of the articles on TopXML and to join 1 or more of the discussion groups here:
http://www.topxml.com/discuss or try our professionally written paid tutorials
http://www.topxml.com/tutorials

And if you still don't understand XML/XSL after all of that then you can try our paid tutorials - we have a tutorial on SQL XML and on the Java JDOM.  Or you can sign up for a hands on training class.

As you might have guessed, this page was made because so many people need a "get started quick" introduction to the huge topic of XML/XSLT.  If you used this page and enjoyed it, then please link to it and tell others about it.