What is RSS? Why is RSS used? How is RSS used?
This article is aimed at giving you a very quick overview of RSS in the simplest way possible, thus answering you the following questions in the process: What is RSS? Why is RSS used? How is RSS used?
What is RSS?
RSS is an abbreviation for “Really Simple Syndication” or “Rich Site Summary”.
- RSS is a technology that can be used by web users to track updates of their favorite websites, without having to physically visit the website URL. (OR)
- RSS is a way of having your favorite websites update you automatically when they have new updates. (OR)
- RSS is a way of “subscribing “to receive updates automatically from your favorite websites as they happen.
- RSS is a file format used to publish content.
It is similar to bookmarking facility on a web browser, with the exception that you get to access all your favorite websites, using software that automatically fetches updates from the websites. In short, consider RSS as your one-stop place for receiving updates from your favorite websites automatically.
Why is RSS used?
Here are some of the main reasons why RSS is used:
- Saves you time. You don’t have to visit your favorite websites manually to read updates.
- Easy to add & track updates of multiple websites from a single joint.
- Unlike the typical bookmarks, you don’t miss updates just because you haven’t visited the website. All updates are automatically brought to you as they are posted, so you get to keep in touch with the latest updates as they happen, saving you immense amount of time.
How is RSS used?
You can access the updates of your favorite websites via RSS by using software called “RSS Reader”. You would need to download and install this software on your PC and then subscribe to the updates of your favorite websites. Once you do that, you will start receiving instant updates, as they happen.
How does RSS look? Or how can you subscribe to receive updates from your favorite websites via RSS?
Softwares that you can download to access RSS:
- My favorite software is FeedDemon. You can download the free version of this software from the official website by clicking here.
- There’s another popular software called “RSSOwl”. Download RSSOwl for free. Visit the official website here.
Technical Mumbo-Jumbo:
The updates from your favorite websites are sent out in the form of XML. XML stands for EXtensible Markup Language that was designed to carry data, not to display data (unlike HTML). The RSS softwares intercept this data in XML format and convert into readable format and present it to you for easy reading.
Related terminology:
RSS Feeds, RSS Syndication
That’s it!
Was I able to introduce what RSS is in the most simplest way? Or do you have another simpler version of describing what RSS is? If yes, please share it with us below. If your version is much simpler than what has already been described, we will update this post and even share a link-back to your website!*
*Please note that all links will be manually checked and approved. No commercial links allowed. Only links that give more information about you or your own website are allowed. Thanks for your cooperation.
Beautifully explained! I had trouble trying to understand what RSS exactly is and this article hits the nail right on the head! I tried to read much about the RSS in Google, but all of that made left me still more confused. I can say, this article, was by the far, the best I came across so far.
I am going to subscribe to your emails. Please keep up the good work and post such helpful articles again.
February 4, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Classic,
Welcome to EWD and thank you for your compliments. I am glad I was able to help you understand the topic. Please visit our blog regularly for such articles. If you want me to write on any specific topic, please submit your request in your reply comment and I will write an article on it, I have the experience.
I also wanted to congratulate you for being the first commentator on our blog!
robert
February 4, 2012 at 2:19 pm
This is truly an amazing explanation! I have read numerous articles but never found an article that explains it so well! Hat’s off to your understanding of what RSS is and how RSS works!
David
July 6, 2012 at 4:38 pm