A Complete Guide to Really Simple Syndication
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a standardized XML-based format for distributing and aggregating web content. It allows websites to publish updates in a machine-readable format that can be easily consumed by feed readers, aggregators, and other applications.
Think of RSS as a subscription service for websites. Instead of visiting each website individually to check for new content, RSS allows you to receive updates from all your favorite sources in one place.
An RSS feed is an XML file that contains a list of items (usually articles, blog posts, or podcast episodes) with metadata such as titles, descriptions, links, and publication dates. Here is a basic example of an RSS 2.0 feed structure:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>My Website</title>
<link>https://example.com</link>
<description>Latest updates from my website</description>
<item>
<title>First Post</title>
<link>https://example.com/post-1</link>
<description>This is my first blog post</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>Several feed formats exist, each with its own use cases:
The most widely used format, simple and flexible
Based on RDF, more complex but extensible
More precisely specified, better internationalization
Modern JSON-based alternative to XML feeds
RSS 2.0 with iTunes/podcast-specific extensions
RSS feeds are used by a wide variety of people and organizations:
Many websites still publish RSS feeds, even if they are not prominently displayed. Here are common ways to find them:
Validating your RSS feed ensures it works correctly across all platforms and applications. Common issues that validation catches include:
Use our free RSS validator to check your feed for errors and ensure it works everywhere.
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