What is RSS?

RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is an easy way to keep up with your favorite news and information. If you click an RSS link, you will see XML (or eXtensible Markup Language) code in your browser. This is to be expected since you do not view RSS content through a regular browser by itself. You view the headlines through an RSS news reader (also called an RSS aggregator). Some of these work with a Web browser so you can browse RSS news feeds seamlessly.

What are RSS Readers?

RSS news readers are small software programs that aggregate RSS feeds and display the story information. They allow you to scan headlines from hundreds of news sources in a central location.

Where Do I Get an RSS Reader?

A wide range of RSS readers can be easily downloaded from the Web. Some readers are Web-based while others require you to download a small software program onto your desktop. Most are free to use. (Several readers require Microsoft's .NET framework on your computer. They may be slightly more complicated to install if you do not have .NET.) Wikipedia offers a comprehensive list of RSS readers.

How Do I Use These Feeds?

The first step, as described above, is to choose an RSS reader. Each reader has a slightly different way of adding a new feed (also called a “channel”). In most cases, here’s how it works:

1. Click on the small XML button near the channel you want. You’ll see a page displaying XML code.
2. From your browser, copy the URL that appears in your Address Bar.
3. Paste that URL into the ‘Add New Channel’ section of the reader. You should be all set! The RSS feed will start to display and regularly update the headlines for you.

Where Can I Learn More about RSS?

There are a range of articles about RSS available online. The Web Reference Web site offers an Introduction to RSS; extended RSS resources are available from Radio Userland.