RSS 

RSS is a globally standardized format that works with XML (Extensible Markup Language) and is used to share Web content. For example, it allows news website administrators to create an XLM file with the latest headlines in order to share them more quickly with their readers. This file can be read using any tool capable of understanding the RSS' XML format.

RSS can also be used for a website to replicate another website's content. To do so, all that need be done is to insert a script pointing to the origin website's XML file in the destination website's page. Such XML file is called a feed.

Operation and update

By and large, RSSs allow for news or information to be received quickly, in sync with the respective content providers, since the data format is limited to simple text.

It can be used to receive a list of updates for the selected websites at the moment they are made, and this feature is commonly used by news, weather forecast, traffic and economic information websites and blogs. Gmail (Google's e-mail service) also uses RSS in its mechanism. RSS sources can be found in directories such as www.rssfeeds.com.br.

RSS Readers

There are two possibilities to use RSS:

• The first would be to use client programs, also known as aggregators. They include the RSSs the user wants to follow-up on.
• The second is to sign-up in specific sites and include the RSS you want to follow-up on. They are browser aggregators. They aggregate RSSs remotely.

Most browsers already allow the user to aggregate RSS via the software itself. They usually do not have as many features available as other aggregators do, though.