Based on the Extensible Markup Language (known as XML), MatML is a non-proprietary, generic language that makes it possible to parse and process data without the need for human intervention. The MatML format makes it easily readable and understandable by scientists and engineers. At the same time, MatML provides software developers with a protocol that is both structured and ordered, facilitating the transmission, validation, and interpretation of materials property data between different applications and across different platforms.
Currently, the MatML Steering Committee is coordinating acceptance testing as well as prototype software development.
More information, including the MatML Version 3.0 Schema, which contains the formal specification for the materials markup language, is available at www.matml.org or by calling Ed Begley, 301-975-6118, begley@nist.gov.