Self-Parsing XML Documents to Improve XML Processing

[0015]The present embodiments provide self-parsing XML documents that exhibit improved XML processing. For example, an XML document is pre-parsed to create one or more indices associated with the XML document, either at the time of document creation, or at a later time when the XML document is idle, e.g., stored in a database or file system and not being used. The indices may be stored inside the XML document, or separately from it. When it is time for an XML consumer to process the XML document, the XML consumer uses the index (or indices) associated with the XML document to assist in the processing, thus significantly reducing the time and resources needed to parse the XML document, while enhancing user response time. The present embodiments thus provide significant performance improvements, particularly if the XML documents are large (e.g., file sizes greater than one gigabyte).

[0016]Referring now to the Figures, an exemplary computer system 100 according to embodiments of the prese