Tags vs PCDATA

[Per Roger Johannessen]

Hi,
Which way is the best way to query a database, with tags or PCDATA? See
below for examples.
Is any of the two alternatives below considered "bad style"?
Does it really matter?

PCDATA-type:
<Message>
	<Query>Name</Query>
</Message>

with the response:
<Message>
	<Answer>
		<Name>Foo</Name>
	</Answer>
</Message>


Tag-type:
<Message>
	<Query>
		<Name/>
	</Query>
</Message>

with the same response as above.

As I see it, the tag type has the advantage that it is the same tag
(eg. <Name>) in the query as in the answer. You can limit the queries to
the same tags allowed for the answers in a DTD. On the other hand it takes
a bit more effort to find what you query for.

Best regards,
	Per Johannessen

Per Roger Johannessen
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Email: gt9919a at prism.gatech.edu




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