RSSFeeds

RSS feeds are a technology for publishing frequently updated information in a standardized, machine-readable format. A typical RSS feed is an XML document that lists items such as articles or posts, with each item containing a title, a link to the full content, and a summary or description. Subscriptions are managed with an RSS reader or aggregator, which retrieves feeds from their URLs and presents new items to the user.

RSS originated in the late 1990s as a simple way for websites to syndicate content. Several versions exist, including RSS 0.9/0.91, RSS 2.0, and RSS 1.0 (RDF). Atom is another widely used feed format that serves a similar purpose. While RSS remains common, some publishers offer multiple formats to maximize compatibility.

Common elements in RSS 2.0 feeds include channel metadata (title, link, description) and multiple item entries (title, link, description, pubDate, and optionally author and guid). Enclosures enable binary content such as podcasts. Readers check feeds periodically; when a new item appears, it is displayed to the subscriber.

Uses and benefits: RSS feeds allow users to monitor many sources in one place, avoid manually checking sites, and support offline reading in some readers. They are widely used by news sites, blogs, and podcast channels. Limitations include reliance on the publisher to maintain the feed, the possibility of incomplete metadata, and privacy considerations associated with feed-usage analytics.

Related formats include Atom and JSON Feed, which offer similar syndication capabilities with different schemas. RSS remains a foundational technology for content syndication by many publishers and readers.