XML has been declared dead more times than any other technology, yet it remains deeply embedded in modern software development. While JSON has become the default for web APIs, XML continues to dominate in enterprise integration, document formats, and configuration in specific ecosystems.
Where XML Persists
Android development relies on XML for layouts, manifests, and resources. SOAP web services in enterprise environments use XML exclusively. Document formats like DOCX, XLSX, and SVG are XML-based. Maven and Ant build systems use XML configuration. These are not legacy systems — they are actively maintained, widely used technologies.
XML’s Genuine Strengths
XML supports namespaces for avoiding naming conflicts in complex documents, schemas (XSD) for rigorous validation, XSLT for declarative document transformation, and XPath for powerful querying. For documents with mixed content (text interspersed with structured data), XML is more natural than JSON.
When JSON Is Better
For web APIs, simple configuration files, and data interchange between JavaScript applications, JSON is simpler, more compact, and has native language support. JSON’s lightweight syntax makes it the right choice when XML’s additional features are unnecessary.
The Practical Answer
Learn both. You will encounter XML regardless of your technology choices, and understanding it well makes you effective in a wider range of projects. Do not avoid XML out of fashion — use the right format for the job.
Working with XML on Mobile
ParseLab for iOS provides syntax-highlighted XML viewing with tree navigation, making it easy to explore Android layouts, SVG files, and configuration documents directly on your iPhone or iPad.