RSS <channel><link> element

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John A Grandy - 19 Apr 2006 17:43 GMT

When constructing an RSS 2.0 XML doc , should the <channel><link> element's
value be

1. the url of the page the displays the content that the RSS feed describes

fox example: http://www.myecommerce.com/results.aspx/?keywords=mens+dress

2. the url of the page which generates an up-to-date version of the RSS doc

for example:
http://www.myecommerce.com/rss/rssxml.aspx?channel=results&keywords=mens+dress

Thanks.

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clintonG - 20 Apr 2006 00:04 GMT

The channel's link element is required and contains a URL indicating the
origen of the channel from which all feed items will originate. The value of
the URL is usually the homepage for example.

Be advised the current "official" specification [1] is being rewritten FOR
CLARITY.

<%= Clinton Gallagher
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/

[1] http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss

> When constructing an RSS 2.0 XML doc , should the <channel><link>
> element's value be
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks.

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John A Grandy - 20 Apr 2006 02:43 GMT

When you say "URL indicating the origin of the channel from which all feed
items will originate" , do you mean by "origin" that the URL is for a
content page that the user views ?

So , the <channel><link> element contains an URL that returns an HTML doc,
not an XML doc (the RSS feed itself) ... ?

> The channel's link element is required and contains a URL indicating the
> origen of the channel from which all feed items will originate. The value
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>>
>> Thanks.

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clintonG - 20 Apr 2006 21:20 GMT

Yes. The channel's link element should load a readable page so we can
determine who publishes the feed. Think of the "channel" like the History
Channel, the Disney Channel and so on where each is an entity that produces
their programs that are published at 7:00 PM, 9:00 PM and so on for example.
Each program is analagous to a feed item element. The entire "feed" is
analagous to a TV guide that happens to be published by a single entity such
as the History Channel. The guide (the feed) only contains program listings
(feed items) for that "channel." Clear as mud now? :-)

<%= Clinton Gallagher

> When you say "URL indicating the origin of the channel from which all feed
> items will originate" , do you mean by "origin" that the URL is for a
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>>>
>>> Thanks.

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John A Grandy - 20 Apr 2006 22:01 GMT

I think I understand ...

However, I find the nomenclature misleading. Logically, I think it makes
more sense that a "feed's channel" should be the url that provides the
actual rss xml feed.

A "feed's page" could be better nomenclature for the url of the website page
which graphically displays (among other things) the data associated with the
feed.

> Yes. The channel's link element should load a readable page so we can
> determine who publishes the feed. Think of the "channel" like the History
[quoted text clipped - 43 lines]
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.

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RSS <channel><link> element

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