What is the W3C ?

First of all, W3C is short for 'The World Wide Web Consortium'. It was created in 1994, roughly at the same time as the concept of the World Wide Web appeared. The purpose of the consortium is to develop common protocols, or standards if you like, that ensures the evolution and interoperability of the Web.

In addition to the development of Web standards, the W3C is a discussion forum for the future development of existing standards, and how communication across the Web will work in the days and years ahead. To read more about the W3C's main goals and how it is structured, you can visit their information pages by clicking here.

As far as XML is concerned, the XML Specification itself has been an official W3C Recommendation since February 1998. Associated standards concerning display and linking in XML are still, to a large extent, under development. The list below shows the various 'XML technologies' and their status at the W3C. For an explanation of how a document becomes a recommendation, you can check out this article at the W3C or this article by Ian Jacobs at XML.com.

Official Recommendations:

Working drafts:

For more information on XML from the World Wide Web Consortium, please visit their XML Home Page. This Contains links to not only the official recommendations and working drafts, but discussion groups, tools and links to XML Software.

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