What are RSS Feeds?

Keeping track of interesting blogs nowadays is becoming increasingly time-consuming because blogs are becoming more numerous in numbers as blogging is rising in popularity. To check out every favorite blog on a daily basis, in a bid to search out for new content, is a task that involves more time than an average 'blogger' is willing to give. Hence, the use of Really Simple Syndication ('RSS') as the solution to this problem.

'RSS' feeds are small 'XML' files containing a headline, date or time, description and link to contents published on a blog. They give an update on the newest information or post(s) that have been added on a blog to a subscriber when they are used along with a feed reader or news 'aggregator'.

These XML files format was developed in different versions with each of them having a different meaning. The term 'RSS' can stand for Really Simple Syndication, 'RDF' site summary or Rich Site Summary depending on the version used.

All the versions provide a summary of information. In other words they perform the same function. The highlight of the post on a blog is sent to subscribers at the instance when they are published. With this the user does not need to visit the sites for updates.

To receive a feed the user must have a feed reader. This reader is also called a news 'aggregator'. This might be a web-based service, a software or extension built into a browser. The XML codes are then translated into readable information by the 'aggregator'. All that the user does is to click on the 'update' button on the feed reader and all the sites he has subscribed to will be searched for new post or contents.

Because it serves as a tool for the audiences to a site to keep abreast of latest information on their favorite blogs, 'RSS' feed greatly increases the traffic to blogs. It is also a way to get update on favourite blogs easily. A subscriber will tend to be involved more with a blog than a site because of the ease in accessing information on blogs. The software also makes it easier to add a link to ones site to another blog.

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