The XML Revival: Why You Can't Escape Those Angle Brackets Just Yet 🤔

July 3, 2026 (3w ago)

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The XML Revival: Why You Can't Escape Those Angle Brackets Just Yet 🤔

The web's past is still very much a part of its present

Hey there! I'm Karan, and today I want to talk about something that I thought was a relic of the past - XML. 🙅‍♂️ As a developer, I've grown accustomed to the simplicity and readability of JSON. It's the default language of the modern web, and for good reason. Whether you're building apps, spinning up microservices, or fetching data, everything revolves around clean, readable JSON.

The JSON Dominance

I spend about 99% of my life swimming in JSON. It's just easier to work with, and most modern frameworks and libraries support it out of the box. I honestly thought my days of wrestling with angle brackets were long gone, left behind in the mid-2010s. But, as it often does, reality had other plans.

The Client Request

A few weeks ago, a new client dropped a bombshell in Slack: "Hey, quick question—can we get this webhook payload sent over as XML instead?" 🤯 My first instinct was a slight internal sigh. But, as I dug deeper into their infrastructure, it made sense. Turns out, a massive chunk of the enterprise world—especially payment gateways, government APIs, banking systems, and legacy applications—still rely heavily on XML.

Why XML Still Matters

  1. Legacy Systems: Many legacy systems were built using XML, and replacing them is often not feasible.
  2. Enterprise Integration: XML is still widely used in enterprise integrations, especially in industries like finance and healthcare.
  3. Data Exchange: XML is often used for data exchange between different systems, especially in cases where data needs to be validated and verified.

My Take

As a developer, it's easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest technologies. But, the reality is that the web is a complex and messy place, and sometimes that means working with older technologies like XML. I'm not saying it's fun, but it's a necessary evil. 🤷‍♂️

Learning to Love XML (Again)

If you're like me, you probably haven't worked with XML in a while. But, with a little practice, it's not so bad. Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Use a library: There are many libraries available that can help you work with XML in your programming language of choice.
  • Keep it simple: Don't try to do too much with XML. Keep your XML documents simple and focused on the data you need to exchange.
  • Validate, validate, validate: Make sure to validate your XML documents to ensure they are correct and consistent.

Conclusion

So, there you have it - XML is still very much alive and kicking. 🚀 While it may not be the most exciting technology, it's still an important part of the web ecosystem. Whether you like it or not, you'll probably encounter XML at some point in your career as a developer. So, take a deep breath, dust off those angle brackets, and get ready to learn (or relearn) XML. Source: DEV Community

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