Extensible Forms Description Language

Extensible Forms Description Language

Filename extension	.xfdl
Internet media type	application/xml, text/xml (deprecated)
Uniform Type Identifier	public.xml
Developed by	World Wide Web Consortium
Type of format	Markup language
Standard(s)	4.0

Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) is a class of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) specified in World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) NOTE-XFDL-19980902, Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) 4.0, September 2, 1998. XFDL is a high-level computer language that facilitates defining a form as a single, stand-alone object using XML elements and attributes. It offers precise control over form layout, permitting replacement of existing business/government forms in a human-readable, open standard.

In addition to providing a syntax for in-line mathematical and conditional expressions, it allows the creator to include custom items, options, and external code functions.

XFDL not only supports multiple digital signatures, but the signatures can apply to specific sections of a form and prevent changes to signed content.

These advantages to XFDL have led large organizations such as the United States Army and Air Force to migrate from forms in other formats to XFDL.

External links

• XML Coverpages
• Boyer, John: "XFDL: The Extensible Forms Description Language - An XML-based forms language for e-commerce." July 22, 2001.
• United States Army Publishing Directorate
• USAF webpage with public downloadable XFDL reader: see "items of interest" link on right side of page for viewer download.
• See also XML Paper Specification (XPS)

Specifications

• Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) 4.0
• W3C XML homepage
• The XML 1.0 specification
• The XML 1.1 specification

Editors

See XML editor for editors and other editing tools.