xml-dev - RE: simple question on namespaces.

[Andrew Layman <andrewl@microsoft.com>]

Yes.  Thanks for posting this answer.

The URI for a namespace needs only to be a unique name.  Per the namespaces
specification, it does not need to actually reference a retrievable
resource, though it may, the spec allows either.  (There is a long thread
debating whether or not this is a good design, which I will not rehash here.
I only report what the design is.)

By choosing a URI based on a URL scheme, first and second-tier domain names,
the authority to create and define a specific URI is as strong and durable
as the rights that go with the domain names.

-----Original Message-----
From: G. Ken Holman [mailto:gkholman@CraneSoftwrights.com]
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 4:54 PM
To: xml-dev@lists.xml.org
Subject: Re: simple question on namespaces.


At 00/12/27 16:16 -0800, Paul Tchistopolskii wrote:
>Why namespace looks exactly like URL when it is in fact  not ?

A URL is expressed using a URI and a URI is used to ensure namespaces are 
unique.  The URI used in a namespace isn't required to represent a URL.

>Just to confuse people, right ?

That question does not deserve comment.

>I think that
>
>xmlns:xsl="www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
>
>Is better design than
>
>xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
>
>...
> > Why something which is not a URL and was not
> > supposed to be a URL ( right? )  looks like URL ?

Because the protocol indication at the beginning of the URL governs the 
format of the rest of the string.  If it wasn't there, then there wouldn't 
be any formal rules for the format of the string.

By saying the string is a URI, the rules governing URI strings direct the 
creation of unambiguous URI string values between users of namespaces.  If 
it were a free-for-all on the string then two people could end up with the 
same string values and introduce ambiguity.  If it were assumed to be a web 
address (as you are proposing) then that prevents people who don't own 
domains to write valid strings that are theirs.  There are other protocols 
encompassed by URI strings allowing people who may have ownership of other 
unique values to validly use other protocol indicators to govern the syntax 
of the strings they are using to be unique.

One could even validly use mailto:myname@mycompany.com as a unique URI 
string, thus not requiring them to have their own web site or ISBN 
publisher's prefix or whatever ... this URI is sufficient.

Why invent a new way in the Internet world for ensuring unique values in as 
many possible domains in a coherent scheme?  There is already one to use, 
it is best to use it than have something either ambiguous or competing that 
has the same benefits.

I hope this helps.

....................... Ken

--
G. Ken Holman                    mailto:gkholman@CraneSoftwrights.com
Crane Softwrights Ltd.             http://www.CraneSoftwrights.com/x/
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