Differences Between DTD and XML Schema

When working with XML, it’s important to define rules that describe the structure and content of your documents. Two common ways to do this are DTD (Document Type Definition) and XML Schema (XSD). While both serve the same basic purpose, they differ greatly in features, flexibility, and modern usage.

 

DTD (Document Type Definition) and XML Schema (XSD) are both used to define the structure and rules of XML documents, but they differ significantly in power, syntax, and capabilities.

FeatureDTDXML Schema
SyntaxNon-XMLXML-based
Data TypesLimitedRich & customizable
Namespace SupportNoYes
Validation PowerBasicAdvanced
ExtensibilityLowHigh
Object-Oriented SupportNoYes
Modern UsageRareWidely used