RSS Feed

RSS is used to describe the technology used in creating feeds.

A feed, also known as RSS feed, XML feed, syndicated content, or web feed, is frequently updated content published by a website. It is usually used for news and blog websites, but can also be used for distributing other types of digital content, including pictures, audio or video. Feeds can also be used to deliver audio content (usually in MP3 format) which you can listen to on your computer or MP3 player.

An RSS document, which is called a "feed", "web feed" or "channel" contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text.

By retrieving the latest content, from the sites you are interested in, RSS feed allows you to easily stay informed. It eliminates the need to visit each site manually and there is no need to subscribe to each site's email newsletter.

RSS content can be read using software called an "RSS reader", "feed reader" or an "aggregator". The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed's link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds.

Some history: RDF Site Summary, the first version of RSS, was created by Ramanathan V. Guha at Netscape in March 1999. This version became known as RSS 0.9. In July 1999, Dan Libby produced a new version, RSS 0.91, and renamed RSS to Rich Site Summary. The RSS-DEV Working Group, introduced RSS 1.0 in December 2000, and reclaimed the name RDF Site Summary. In September 2002, Winer released a major new version of the format, RSS 2.0, that redubbed its initials Really Simple Syndication.

So, "RSS" in general, may to refer to any of the following formats:
a. Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)
b. RDF Site Summary (RSS 1.0 and RSS 0.90)
c. Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91)