XML is an elegant solution to the problem of data portability. Like all breakthroughs, however, it gives rise to new challenges. With XML, you can store and structure data for seamless, cross-platform exchange-which is especially crucial in today2s e-commerce environments. But XML does no processing itself. To leverage XML data, you need to use a programming language. XML Programming with Perl, Python, and PHP teaches you to reap the special advantage of processing your XML with these and four other scripting languages, which-as you2ll see-trump C, C++, and Java in a variety of ways. Along this path lie shorter development times and lower costs. At its end lie performance benefits such as superior text processing, memory management, and data modeling capabilities, as well as strategic benefits such as greater longevity and broader compatibility. Choose the language that makes the most sense for you and move ahead. With this book2s help you2ll master the execution of remote procedures, the internal modeling of XML data, the exporting of internal data into XML, and the conversion of XML to formats as varied as SQL, HTML, and proprietary configuration schemes. Application-specific examples keep you focused on the real world; at the same time, the scripting techniques you2ll learn all rise above specific applications. Like XML data, they2re flexible, and they2ll serve you well in whatever context you2re working.