The coverage of today's Java XML tools is perhaps unmatched by any text. The authors do a great job at presenting the essentials first, in short, fast-moving, understandable chapters, before ranging farther afield. In particular, the coverage of two of the most important XML APIs in today's Java (SAX and DOM) is a standout here. We also liked the benchmarks that show how SAX can offer faster performance, plus the easy-to-grasp summaries of essential programming APIs for both tools. Beyond the basics, the authors present several advanced techniques, like sending XML over sockets and advanced "tricks" available in Xerces.

After the basics of parsing XML, the book turns to transforming XML using XSLT, again with a no-nonsense, practical tour. Turning toward the server-side, the text presents a quick introduction to JSP and servlets and where XML fits into each. (Readers will appreciate the demonstration of creating XML from an "ordinary" JSP here.) After looking at XML used with databases and messaging, the book focuses in on Web services in a particularly well-wrought chapter that covers all of the relevant standards for today's Web services, including how SOAP is really just an extension of XML messaging for the enterprise.

After looking at security issues with XML (including the importance of using secure sockets), a section on the various ways of defining XML documents (from standard DTDs to XML Schema, Schematron, and even RDF) shows the advantages and design goals of each. Handy reference sections list resources for all of today's leading XML-based tools and W3C XML standards.

While today's landscape of XML standards and tools can indeed be daunting, this text sorts it out with an enthusiastic treatment of the subject filled with practical advice and an expert's take on what working Java developers and system architects need to know when it comes to XML. --Richard Dragan