Webmaster Forum / Flash / Data Integration / October 2005

XML is not compared to PHP and mySQL.

XML is a data markup language. It could be used with PHP and mySQL.

PHP is a programming language

mySQL is a database.

Here is an example of all three being used together with Flash I use in
seminars:

http://www.hosfordusa.com/ClickSystems/courses/flash/examples/XMLPHPMySql/Ex01/X
MLPHPMySQLEx01_Doc.php

Rather you want to compare XML with URL data pairs or URL query string
format.

One of the comparison items is the look in the code (there are many other
comparison points). Ex:

XML
<shipping methods>
   <shippingmethod>
     <id>123</id>>
     <name>Fed Ex</name>
   </shippingmethod>
   <shippingmethod>
     <id>456</id>>
     <name>UPS</name>
   </shippingmethod>
   <shippingmethod>
     <id>789</id>>
     <name>Horseback</name>
   </shippingmethod>
</shipping methods>

URL query string format

shippingmethodid1=123&shippingmethodname1=Fed
Ex&shippingmethodid2=456&shippingmethodname2=UPS&shippingmethodid3=789&shippingmethodname3=Horseback

In Flash use LoadVars Class for URL query string format and XML Class for
XML.

I have never used xml, and the research I have done into it is confusing me
as
to what it actually is and more importantly why I would. As far as I
understand
it is a script that you write using your own personal tags, that basically
stores data. You then write an application to interact with this data.
However
what I don't understand is the advantage to using xml over using php and
mysql?... please reply. Also if anyone also knows the advantages of using
coldfusion over php/ mysql please answer that to.. many thanks Jonny.