XLink and XPointerIntroduction

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XLink defines a standard way to create hyperlinks in XML documents.

XPointer allows hyperlinks to point to more specific parts (fragments) of XML documents.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin this tutorial, you should have a basic understanding of:

• HTML / XHTML
• XML / XML Namespaces
• XPath

If you want to learn these topics first, please visit these tutorials on our homepage.Homepage.

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What is XLink?

XLink is short for XML Linking Language XLink is a language for creating hyperlinks in XML documents XLink is similar to HTML links - but more powerful Any element in an XML document can become an XLink XLink supports simple links as well as extended links that can link multiple resources together With XLink, links can be defined outside the linked files XLink is a W3C Recommendation

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What is XPointer?

XPointer is short for XML Pointer Language XPointer allows hyperlinks to point to more specific parts (fragments) of XML documents. XPointer uses XPath expressions to locate content in XML documents XPointer is a W3C Recommendation

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XLink and XPointer are W3C Standards

On June 27, 2001, XLink was established as a W3C Recommendation.

XPointer became a W3C Recommendation on March 25, 2003.

In ourW3C Tutorial, you can read more about XML standards.

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Browser Support for XLink and XPointer

Browsers support XLink and XPointer only to a minimal extent.

Mozilla 0.98+, Netscape 6.02+, and Internet Explorer 6.0 all have some degree of support for XLink. Earlier versions of browsers do not support XLink at all.

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