# XML Schema

*Last updated: 2026-06-18*

> Whenever shipment data, customs declarations, or freight documents are exchanged electronically, the question arises of how the transmitted XML file must be structured – an XML Schema provides the answer.

Whenever shipment data, customs declarations, or freight documents are exchanged electronically, the question arises of how the transmitted XML file must be structured – an XML Schema provides the answer. It formally specifies which elements an XML message must contain, which data types (text, number, date) are permitted for each field, which fields are mandatory and which are optional, and how elements may be arranged hierarchically. Freight forwarders, shippers, and customs authorities agree on XML Schemas as the technical foundation for automated data exchange, for example in electronic export declarations or the transmission of consignment note data. The schema functions as a formal contract between systems: a message that does not conform is immediately rejected by schema validation. The most widely used schema language is XSD (XML Schema Definition); the older DTD (Document Type Definition) is also encountered in legacy systems.

**Source:** [https://www.w3.org/XML/Schema](https://www.w3.org/XML/Schema)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | XML Schema |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 141 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18 |
| Source | https://www.w3.org/XML/Schema |

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