XML is one of the most important developments in computer science in recent years because it creates a standard for computers to talk to each other in terms of formatted data. XML is used in designing data-driven Web pages, and in communication across the Internet between companies. The XML Schema Companion is a good introduction to the concepts and syntax needed to work with this new data format. It describes in a concise and coherent way all the major elements that a programmer would need to use XML in their applications.

The book begins by discussing the concept of well-formed documents and describes how XML is used to display database information. It then goes into a detailed description of elements, attributes, and document structure. These are some of the core concepts that anyone writing XML must master. The book deals with namespace and schema relationships, and simple and complex types. It ends with advanced inheritance and document modeling techniques.

The book lays the foundation for a thorough understanding of XML.