Definition

Proper noun 1. Standard Generalized Markup Language: A standardized metalanguage (a language for describing other languages) used for defining the structure and content of electronic documents. It is a set of rules for creating markup languages, such as HTML, rather than being a markup language itself.

Usage

SGML is used as a technical term in computing, specifically in document processing and web technologies. It describes the foundational system for markup. - The original HTML specification was defined as an SGML application. - Many complex documentation systems in publishing and aerospace were built using SGML.

Advanced Usage

• SGML Declaration: The formal prologue that defines the specific character set and syntax features for an SGML document type.
  • The document's SGML declaration must be parsed before the DTD.
• SGML Parser: A software tool that reads and interprets documents based on SGML rules.
  • An SGML parser validates the document against its Document Type Definition (DTD).

Variants and Related Words

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): A specific markup language defined as an application of SGML (and later, XML).
• XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A simplified subset of SGML designed for web data exchange.
• DTD (Document Type Definition): A set of rules, defined using SGML or XML, that specifies the structure and legal elements of a document type.

Synonyms

• Metalanguage (in this specific technical context)
• Markup framework

Related Terms (Not Synonyms)

• Markup: The system of annotations within a document. SGML is a system for defining markup systems.
• Document Structuring Language: A descriptive term for the function of SGML.

Noun

1. (computer science) a standardized language for the descriptive markup of documents; a set of rules for using whatever markup vocabulary is adopted