Is the XML decl a PI ?

[Richard Anderson]

> It is not a "processing instruction"!  It is a *declaration*!

The XML declaration is an indication to the application processing the
document as to what version of the XML spec the following markup conforms
to, what encoding is used, and whether or not there are dependancies of
external entites within the document.  All of those are processing hints
(read PI) for the XML processor, arent they ?

Now, it you can tell me that the XML decl doesn't meet the definition of a
processing instruction as defined by section 2.6 of the spec I'll change my
mind.   To me, the XML declartion is simply a PI that has a special meaning.
Certainly the SAX parser I use reports the XML declaration as a PI which is
obviously very usual.  Is that unusual ?

I will argue the XML spec doesn't define the declaration as a type of PI,
but it does reserve the xml PItarget, and, quickly checking the nearest XML
book on my desk (XML companion by Neil Bradley) that also says it is a PI.

Regards,

Richard A.



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