WEB service applications often pass information using XML documents. Applicationdevelopers whose applications accept XML documents must understand howbest to extract information from these XML documents and use that information intheir business processing. They must also know how to assemble XML documentsfrom the results of the business processing.This chapter provides an extensive coverage of XML document handling. Tomake it more manageable, you may want to concentrate on the sections of particularinterest to you. These sections are as follows:• “XML Overview” on page 172—Provides an overview of basic XML concepts.If you are not familiar with XML, this section provides a concise summaryof key XML concepts and technologies. Even if you do know XML well,you may want to skim this part since it highlights issues important for designingXML-based applications.• “Outline for Handling XML Documents” on page 178—Describes how applicationstypically handle XML documents.• “Designing XML-Based Applications” on page 181—Covers such design topicsas receiving and sending XML documents, validating XML documents,mapping XML documents to data objects, processing documents or objects,and keeping business processing logic separate from XML processing logic.This discussion also includes recommendations that help determine how tobest design an XML-based application. Architects and application designersshould find this section of particular interest.
