XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a fundamental technology for storing and transporting data in a structured, readable format. Unlike HTML, which is designed to display data, XML is designed to carry data with a focus on what the data is, not how it looks.

Think of XML as a set of rules for creating your own custom tags to organize information. It is both human-readable and machine-readable, making it a universal standard for data exchange between different systems and applications on the web.

Here are some key characteristics and uses of XML:

• Self-Descriptive: The tags you create (like <name> or <price>) describe the content they enclose.
• Platform & Language Independent: It works across virtually any system.
• Widely Used: It forms the backbone for many web technologies, including RSS feeds, sitemaps, and configuration files.

A simple XML snippet for a product might look like this:
<product>
  <name>Web Hosting Plan</name>
  <price currency="USD">9.99</price>
</product>

In web hosting, you'll often encounter XML in your website's sitemap.xml file, which helps search engines index your pages, or in configuration files for various applications. Its structured nature ensures data remains organized and easily accessible.