XML data stores: emerging practices

We survey emerging native XML storage approaches and identify and highlight popular implementations tailored to XML\´s "nature" and syntax. By understanding the storage practices of emerging native XML environments, programmers and software designers can better exploit the technology\´s scalability and reliability benefits. It is because XML is rapidly becoming the Internet standard for data representation and exchange, efficient XML document storage has become a core data management issue. Most early XML storage practices rely on conventional database management systems. However, such systems involve mappings and transformations between XML and the underlying database structure. More recent efforts are based on specific XML-tailored systems that provide ad hoc functionalities. This overview of emerging XML storage approaches highlights current practices along with prospective research and implementation trends.