XML and Scientific File Formats

摘要

For many years, scientific data has been stored and transferred using a variety of data formats. In recent years XML has become an important and popular for exchanging digital information. At the most abstract level, XML can be used for any purpose that a binary format might be used, and vice versa. This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of XML and binary formats, and speculates on the best uses of each in future scientific data systems.