Definition[]
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a web content format which, when used with an RSS aggregator, can allow one to alert users to new content on a website. These RSS feeds enable users to avoid the conventional methods of browsing or searching for information on websites. Now the content they want is delivered directly to them.
Overview[]
RSS is an application that provides a mechanism for "pushing" or "feeding" content (a "feed") to subscribing consumers on the web and can be written in any one of a family of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) "syndication" schemas.
RSS uses include:
- Automatically integrating content from other web sources into web sites;
- Updating desired information automatically based on posting date (i.e., updated weather reports linked on an agency site);
- Aggregating desired content into one web site.
The main benefit of RSS is that it enables people to stay connected with websites without having to visit them. Once a user subscribes to a particular RSS feed, the user will automatically receive updates from the website that publishes the feed, whenever they post new content.