What is RSS?

What is RSS?

• RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is an XML-based format for sharing and distributing Web content, such as news headlines. Using an RSS reader, you can view data feeds from various news sources, including headlines, summaries, and links to full stories.

How do I know if an RSS is Available?

• If an RSS feed is available on a website then you may see an icon similar to this: or in your web browser or aggregator. Simply click the icon to add it as an RSS feed.

How do I access RSS?

• RSS/News Aggregators

  • RSS/News Aggregators (also called Readers) will download and display RSS feeds for you. A number of free and commercial News Aggregators are available for download at http://download.com (search keywords: RSS Readers).
  • Many aggregators are separate, “stand-alone” programs; other services will let you add RSS feeds to a Web page; try Google Reader at http://reader.google.com. Web browsers also have tools for viewing your RSS feeds. Mozilla Firefox, a popular open source web browser, has built in support for RSS feeds they call “Live Links”. The new Internet Explorer version 7 also enables subscription to web feeds.

• Weblogs

  • Another way many people use RSS feeds is by incorporating content into weblogs, or “blogs”. Blogs are web pages comprised of usually short, frequently updated items and web links. Blogging as a publishing tool is used for many purposes: traditional journalism, personal journals, group discussions around a topic, and many combinations in-between.
  • Please read the ITS news blog at http://blogs.umflint.edu/its/.

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