Explain what the XML format is and in what cases it is used?

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a text-based format for storing and transmitting structured data. It is based on tags that describe elements and their nesting, allowing easy representation of complex hierarchical structures.

Main features of XML:

• Human-readable and machine-readable
• Extensible: custom tags can be created
• Supports nesting and attributes

XML is widely used for:

• Data exchange between systems (e.g., SOAP web services)
• Configuration files (e.g., Spring, Maven)
• Storage of structured data
• Document formats (e.g., SVG, RSS)

Example of a simple XML document:

<book>
  <title>Java Programming</title>
  <author>Ivan Ivanov</author>
  <year>2020</year>
</book>

XML allows describing data in a structured way, simplifying processing and integration between different applications.