Re: [xml-dev] What are the practical, negative consequences of thinkingt

[Thomas Passin <list1@tompassin.net>]

Not an example of "bad things" happening, but rather an example where 
attribute content is clearly not metadata - Dave Winder's OPML markup. 
He uses it for his development and production systems for blogs and 
other programming.  All the text is held in attributes, not as element 
content.

I wouldn't do it that way, but it works very well for him.

TomP

On 2/15/2017 10:24 AM, Costello, Roger L. wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> Consider this XML:
>
> <Book binding="hardcover"> <Title>Software Abstractions</Title>
> <Author>Daniel Jackson</Author> </Book>
>
> I often hear people say that attributes are metadata. For example,
> @binding is metadata.
>
> David Carlisle likes to remind me that there is nothing in the XML
> specification which says that attributes are metadata. In fact, the
> XML specification does not even use the word "metadata."
>
> So when I hear people talking about attributes being metadata, I
> channel David Carlisle and tell them that attributes are not
> metadata.
>
> But I'm thinking this is a lost cause. The belief that attributes are
> metadata is too widespread.
>
> Besides, what difference does it make if people think that attributes
> are metadata? Can you give me a concrete, practical example showing
> where bad things happen because someone thought that attributes are
> metadata?
>
> /Roger