XSD File Extension

What is the .XSD file type?

The .xsd filename extension stands for the XML Schema Definition (XSD) file type. XML Schema is an international standard with the status of a W3C recommendation, and the XSD file type is the standard designation of XML Schema files. XSD is a subset of XML, and the idea behind it is somewhat similar to the earlier DTD (Document Type Definition) mechanism in that XSD is a metalanguage used to construct and help enforce XML-based language rules.

An .xsd file is a plaintext listing of XML source code. It is a definition of an XML schema, a structured prototype model of a regular XML document. XML Shema (.xsd) files can be used to create custom XML-based languages and check, or validate XML documents against rules imposed by a given XSD schema.

XML schemas (.xsd) are used by a wide range of modern XML-capable software, including web browsers, operating systems, office suites, IDE's, and many others. Besides, any .xsd file can be manually opened and edited with a text editor, assuming working knowledge of the XML Schema syntax.

Unrelated to the above, the .xsd extension is alternatively associated with the Pattern Maker Cross-Stitch Datafile (XSD) file type and format. Pattern Maker is a paid Microsoft Windows application to author cross-stitching patterns, basing on digital bitmap images. An .xsd file is a representation of a cross-stitch pattern designed with Pattern Maker. Such XSD files can be opened, viewed, and printed with both Pattern Maker and Pattern Viewer, while editing is possible in Pattern Maker only.

Software to open or convert XSD files

Microsoft® Visual Studio®

 

Microsoft Visual Studio

 

MicrosoftR Visual StudioR

 

XMLSpy®

 

XML Copy Editor by Zane U. Ji

 

Free File Viewer Pro

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