Wireless Markup Language facts for kids

Wireless Markup Language (WML) is a special programming language used to create websites for older wireless devices, like early mobile phones. Think of it as a simpler version of HTML, which is the language used for most websites you see on computers and smartphones today.

WML is based on XML, which means it has very strict rules about how you write the code. Every part of the code, called a "tag," needs to be opened and closed correctly, and everything must be in the right order. WML content could only be seen using a special kind of web browser called a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Browser.

What is WML Used For?

WML was created for a time when mobile phones had small screens, very limited internet speeds, and not much power. It was designed to make simple web pages that could load quickly and fit on these small screens.

How WML Works

Instead of showing full web pages, WML pages were often broken into smaller parts called "cards." A collection of these cards was called a "deck." When you visited a WML website, your phone would download a whole deck, and then you could flip through the cards without needing to download each one separately. This helped save data and made browsing faster on slow connections.

WML vs. HTML

While WML and HTML both use tags to structure content, they have some key differences:

• Simplicity: WML was much simpler than HTML. It had fewer features because old phones couldn't handle complex designs or interactive elements.
• Strict Rules: WML was very strict about its syntax (the rules for writing code). If you made a small mistake, the page might not work. HTML is a bit more forgiving.
• Device Focus: WML was built specifically for mobile devices with limited power. HTML, especially modern HTML, is designed for a wide range of devices, from desktops to tablets and smartphones.

Why WML is Not Common Now

WML was popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when WAP phones were common. However, as technology improved, smartphones with bigger screens, faster internet, and more powerful processors became available. These new phones could handle full HTML websites, making WML less necessary. Today, most mobile websites are built using modern HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which offer a much richer experience.

Images for kids

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  Screenshot of WMLBrowser on Mozilla Firefox

See also

In Spanish: Wireless Markup Language para niños