Technical Tips - RSS feeds

RSS is a format which allows people to be kept informed, automatically, about changes to websites. There is some debate as to what RSS stands for, but 'Really Simple Syndication' is now the generally-accepted answer. RSS feeds are primarily associated with news websites, but are equally suitable for any website which is regularly updated.

RSS feeds from websites are read using software applications which are known variously as feed readers, news readers, or news aggregators. RSS feed readers may be downloadable desktop applications, or web-based services, and are built-into the latest versions of web browsers such as Internet Explorer 7.

Users "subscribe" to RSS feeds of their choice; the RSS reader then regularly checks the user's subscribed feeds for new content, downloads any updates that it finds, and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds.

An RSS feed from a web page is generally indicated by this icon - RSS icon

Windows-based, downloadable, feed readers include:
Awasu, FeedDemon, and Newz Crawler.

Web-based feed readers include:
Bloglines, Google Reader, and NewsGator.

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