XML Schema Complete Reference, The

2.3. Schema Processing

Dealing with schemas involves two separate processes on two separate documents. First, the schema has to be created from one or more schema documents. Second, the document to be validated must be parsed and then validated against the schema.

2.3.1. Processing an XML Schema Document

An XML schema document (XSD) is an XML document whose document element is a schema and that conforms to the “Schema for Schemas” and other requirements prescribed in the Schema Recommendation. The document must be parsed, giving rise to a corresponding (abstract) infoset. The infoset, in turn, is processed by a schema processor to create a schema, equally abstract, that is a collection of schema components. (Actually, several schema documents ...