Short for commerce XML, a set of document type definitions for the XML specification. cXML works as a meta-language that defines necessary information about a product. It will be used to standardize the exchange of catalog content and to define request/response processes for secure electronic transactions over the Internet. The processes includes purchase orders, change orders, acknowledgments, status updates, ship notifications and payment transactions.
cXML began as a collaborative effort among 40+ companies looking to reduce the costs of online business. This standardized methodology will allow participating companies--and others who implement the cXML framework--to constantly improve and streamline electronic commerce.
The first version of cXML (version 0.91) launched in mid-May 1999.
cXML: A new taxonomy for E-commerce WebReference article (February 1999) on what cXML is, procurement processing, and who's involved in this new initiative.
