OASIS Mailing List ArchivesView the OASIS mailing list archive below
or browse/search using MarkMail.

 


Help: OASIS Mailing Lists Help | MarkMail Help

 


 

   RE: [xml-dev] Attribute Usage

[ Lists Home | Date Index | Thread Index ]

It's a pretty subjective concept, and there is no hard and fast rule of law.
Generally speaking:

1.	Attributes are metadata (information about information) and usually
represent properties of information.  They can't contain mixed content or
child elements, and don't define structure in the document.

2.	Elements are data and represent components of information.  They can
contain mixed content and child elements. Elements provide both content
definition and structure to the document. 

An ID would be a good example of an attribute.  It does not define content
or structure, but does provide a unique identifier for an element that does.

=======================
Douglas Rudder
XML Analyst
WoltersKluwer Health - Clinical Tools
77 West Port Plaza, Suite 450
Phone:  314-216-2227
e-mail:  drudder@drugfacts.com
www.drugfacts.com
=======================


-----Original Message-----
From: Farid.Mahini@L-3com.com [mailto:Farid.Mahini@L-3com.com] 
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 3:01 PM
To: xml-dev@lists.xml.org
Subject: [xml-dev] Attribute Usage

Hi,

What is the purpose of element attribute?  And is there a usage
rule-of-thumb for element attribute (attribute vs. child element) ? 
Thanx,
-Farid
 


From E-mail Administrator
ATTENTION PLEASE: Do you have our new e-mail addresses?
The current L-3 standard is First.Last @ L-3com.com E-mail addressed to
First.Last @ te.L-3com.com will no longer be delivered.
Please update your address book using the "From" address on this email.



-----------------------------------------------------------------
The xml-dev list is sponsored by XML.org <http://www.xml.org>, an initiative
of OASIS <http://www.oasis-open.org>

The list archives are at http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/

To subscribe or unsubscribe from this list use the subscription
manager: <http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/index.php>




 

News | XML in Industry | Calendar | XML Registry
Marketplace | Resources | MyXML.org | Sponsors | Privacy Statement

Copyright 2001 XML.org. This site is hosted by OASIS