RSS: When the Web Comes to You

The web is making all of the world's information accessible. Isn't that great?

It really is great, but the world is a very big place and contemplating all of its information makes my brain hurt. I have a limited capacity to absorb information. The more that's available, the bigger the traffic jams in my head. I am freshly reminded of how much information is out there when ever I write one of my newsletters. As I research my monthly subject I have to get my head around many sources of information. It seems like every discovery leads to ten more potential sources. On top of evaluating multiple sources I am often sidetracked when I stumble across other intriguing leads. Dealing with so much information can be overwhelming.


One way to manage information overload is through the use of RSS. RSS stands for (at least most people say it stands for) Real Simple Syndication. Content providers like bloggers, traditional news outlets, and Newfangled can utilize the simple RSS format to allow people to subscribe using their RSS readers. I'm sure you've seen plenty of sites that have those RSS or XML graphics next to articles. Those icons indicate that you can subscribe to that site's RSS feed.

An RSS reader keeps an eye on all the feeds you've subscribed to. Whenever new content is posted from one of these sites, your reader displays the new headlines. Peruse the headlines of your favorite sources of information and if one is particularly interesting you can click to get details or click through to site and read the entire article. RSS feeds are updated continuously and so as new information is released, a cursory glance at running headlines keeps you in the loop.

Unlike email newsletters I am in complete control over my RSS intake. Once I give up my email address to a newsletter I am at the mercy of the unsubscribe button to be removed from the list. With an RSS reader I can simply delete an address from my RSS reader and the information from that content provider is no longer delivered.

By the way, you may also run into feeds referred to as "Atom" feeds. These are just an alternate standard for defining your XML file. Pretty much all the readers and services support both types, so just consider RSS and Atom feeds synonymous.   next >