Binary XML

Binary XML, or Binary Extensible Markup Language, refers to the concept of a language specification which would describe the information of an XML document using binary data rather than plain text. The effect of moving to a binary XML format would be to reduce the verbosity and cost of parsing XML, while losing the ability to view and edit XML document using ordinary text editors.

The major challenge for binary XML is to create a single, widely adopted standard.

Binary XML may also allow random access of an XML document.

Alternatives include using compressing XML documents with traditional file compression methods such as gzip; or using an existing standard such as ASN.1. Traditional compression methods, however, offer only the advantage of compression, without the advantages of decreased parsing time nor random access. ASN.1 is being used as the basis of at least one Binary XML format: Fast Infoset.