XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language designed to store and transport data. It is a platform-independent format used to represent structured data in a human-readable and machine-readable format. XML allows users to define their own custom tags, making it flexible for a variety of uses.

Key Features of XML:

1. Extensible: You can create your own tags to structure data, unlike HTML which has predefined tags.
2. Hierarchical Structure: Data in XML is organized in a tree structure, with nested elements to represent relationships.
3. Human-Readable: XML files are text-based and can be opened and edited by humans.
4. Machine-Readable: XML files can be parsed and processed by machines or applications for data exchange.
5. Platform-Independent: XML is independent of hardware and software, making it useful for sharing data across different systems and platforms.

Common Uses:

• Data exchange between different systems and applications.
• Configuration files for software and applications.
• Document storage like eBooks, invoices, and product catalogs.