Description #
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based web feed format used to publish and subscribe to frequently updated content such as blog posts, news headlines, and podcasts.
History #
RSS was originally developed by Dan Libby and Ramanathan V. Guha at Netscape in 1999, evolving through multiple versions and forks. It became a popular standard for syndicating content across the web in the early 2000s.
Hello World Code #
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>Hello World Feed</title>
<link>https://example.com/</link>
<description>This is a Hello World RSS feed</description>
<item>
<title>Hello, World!</title>
<link>https://example.com/hello-world</link>
<description>Hello, World! in RSS</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>How to Run #
Option 1: Online
Preview RSS XML using:
https://codebeautify.org/rssviewer
Option 2: Local
Save the XML as feed.xml and host it publicly.
You can then subscribe to it using any RSS reader (e.g. Feedly, Inoreader).
Key Concepts #
- XML format with strict tag structure
<rss>,<channel>, and<item>are core elements- Supports title, link, description, publication date, and GUID
- Used by blogs, news sites, and podcasts
- Enables content syndication and automated distribution
- Widely supported by feed readers and aggregators
- Version 2.0 is the most popular
- Alternative formats: Atom, JSON Feed
- Easily generated with static site generators or CMS plugins
- Lightweight and open standard
Try It Online #
https://codebeautify.org/rssviewer
Fun Facts #
- Podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify rely on RSS to deliver episodes.
- Google Reader’s shutdown in 2013 marked a turning point in RSS usage—but many still rely on it today.
- RSS is making a comeback among privacy-conscious users and open web advocates.
Resources #
Official site
Docs or tutorial
GitHub or interpreter
Community or learning resources
