Extensible Markup Language (XML) is the environment of choice for creating many of today's technologically sophisticated and security-sensitive Web applications. With Secure XML, developers now have the hands-on guide they need to combine a strong foundation in XML with proven, practical techniques for enabling the secure transmission of data across the Web.

Broad-based and comprehensive, Secure XML fully documents every feature and issue involved with XML security. Opening with a complete introduction to XML, the book then provides detailed coverage of authentication, canonicalization, keying, encryption, algorithms, and more. Notes, background information, guidelines, and "soapbox," or heretical comments, expand on the book's practical focus throughout. In all, this book features the most comprehensive roadmap to digital security and XML encryption available.

Topics covered in-depth include:

XML basics—documents, namespaces, structures, DTDs and schemas, and stylesheets

XPath, XPointer, and SOAP

Digital cryptography basics — secret and public key ciphers, asymmetric keys, digital signatures, and certificates

XML canonicalization, signatures, and authentication

XML encryption

Key management and combining encryption with signatures Cryptographic algorithms and noncryptographic algorithmsDetailed and practical, this book provides reliable solutions for securing XML and for safeguarding information flow across today's sophisticated Web.