Escape mechanism using release character

[Amit Rekhi]

Hello,

Why is it that the well known escape mechanism of using a 
release character (like '\') for escaping special characters 
(eg. '<','&') not used in XML?
for eg. 
In order to input data "5<8"(without quotes) in
XML element, it is currently represented something like:
<Element1>5&lt;8</Element1>

Why not escape '<' using '\<' so that we get 
<Element1>5\<8</Element1>?

Thanks in advance for any replies,

Amit Rekhi,
Software Engineer,
A.B. Infosys Private Limited,
B-102, Gulmohar Park,
New Delhi - 110049,
INDIA.
Tel: +91-11-6512816,6512822,6968976
Fax: +91-11-6518873
Website: http://www.abinfosys.com
EMail: amit at abinfosys.com

Note: Not related to Infosys Technologies Limited








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