Plain Old XML

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POX redirects here. For other uses, see Pox.

Plain Old XML (POX) is a term used to describe basic XML, sometimes mixed in with other, blendable specifications like XML Namespaces, Dublin Core, XInclude and XLink. People typically use the term as a contrast with complicated, multilayered XML specifications like those for Web Services or RDF.

An interesting question is how POX relates to XML Schema. On the one hand, POX is completely compatible with XML Schema. However, many POX users eschew XML Schema to avoid the poor or inconsistent quality of XML Schema-to-Java tools.

POX is different from REST in that the latter refers to a style for communication protocols, while the former only refers to an information format style. REST could be seen as POX over HTTP with some peculiarities.

The primary competitors to POX are JSON-derivatives that avoid many of the problems of XML altogether.