Atom (standard)

Atom is an XML-based document format and HTTP-based protocol designed for the syndication of Web content such as weblogs and news headlines to Web sites as well as directly to user agents. It is based on experience gained in using the various versions of RSS. Atom was briefly known as "Echo".

The completed Atom specification was submitted to the IETF for approval in June 2005, the final step in becoming an RFC Internet Standard Implementors are urged to wait until the spec is finished before deploying it, so that interoperability problems are minimized. The latest Atom data format and publishing protocols are linked from the Working Group's home page.

Before the Atom work entered the IETF process is referred, the group produced "Atom 0.3", which has support from a fairly wide variety of syndication tools both on the publishing and consuming side. In particular, it is generated by several Google-related services, namely Blogger and Gmail.

As well as a replacement for RSS (the "Atom Syndication Format"), the Atom Project is producing the "Atom Publishing Protocol", with a similar aim of improving on and replacing existing publishing mechanisms, such as the Blogger API and LiveJournal XML-RPC Client/Server Protocol.

via [ BlogBrowser ] [ Simple Blog Browser Application ]