Notes on XML, Elements, and Attributes

Published on Apr 23, 2009 (updated Feb 5, 2024), filed under development. (Share this post, e.g. on Mastodon or on Bluesky.)

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Contrary to what one might expect, I’m not bringing in much XML design experience with my occasional contributions to the HTML 5 specification. However, knowledge of the design of markup languages is something I consider beneficial for my job as a web professional as well. A few notes on XML design, inspired by internal and external documentation:

• Attributes mean more restrictions than elements. Every XML design contains some elements. An XML design that only features elements is simplest, but not necessarily most appropriate.

• Elements are handy if data are exposed to the user. If these data are not shown, using an attribute might be more useful.

• Elements should be used when information is represented that can be considered an independent object, and when there is some kind of parent and child relationship.

• Several occurrences in a data model are often better handled by elements rather than attributes. This avoids enumerated attributes like, for instance, foo1, foo2, foo3, &c.

• To order data, elements are more useful than attributes. Attributes are “inherently unordered.”

Update (November 27, 2014)

I found Uche Ogbuji’s article on principles of XML design useful, too. For example:

• The general principle of data going into elements, metadata into attributes.

• The principle of structured information: If the information is expressed in a structured form, especially if the structure may be extensible, use elements. But: If the information is expressed as an atomic token, use attributes.

• The principle of readability: If the information is intended to be read and understood by a person, use elements. But: If the information is most readily understood and digested by a machine, use attributes.

• The principle of element/attribute binding: Use an element if you need its value to be modified by another attribute.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies you use every day (like Google) and companies you’ve never heard of, I’m an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and perspectives. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)