Terminology

["Ben Pickering" <benjaminpickering@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

I have a question for the list, apologies if it sounds a little vague, but 
how to phrase this question is part of the problem itself...

As I read various XML specs, including XSLT, and especially the XML Schema 
spec, I find myself becoming confused by the terminology, and I get the 
impression that the confusing terms are not peculiar to those documents, 
rather, they are the language of a higher-level set of concepts that 
encompasses XML, among other things.

To take a simple example, the word 'schema' -- I have an understanding of 
what this means in the context of XML, but it clearly also has a more formal 
meaning, as it can be applied to database design as well.  So what's the 
definition of 'schema'?

My question is, are there any books or online documents dealing with the 
theory of 'information stuctures'?  Some kind of description of the ways in 
which information may be structured, and the advantages of doing it a 
particular way?

Regards,
Ben.

PS:  I know the XML Schema 'Last Call' is currently under fire for its 
complexity, but I hope you see my point.
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