Glossary

What is RSS?

RSS is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually.

An RSS document, which is called a "feed," "web feed," or "channel," contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS content can be read using software called an "RSS reader," "feed reader" or an "aggregator." The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed's link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds. 

RSS Readers

Popular RSS reader applications include Awasu, FeedDemon, and NewsGator (Windows); and NetNewsWire,NewsFire, and Shrook (Mac OS X). A more comprehensive list of available RSS readers can be found at dmoz.org.

Firefox users can subscribe to RSS feeds by clicking on the orange "Live Bookmark" icon in the address bar .

Safari (Mac) users can use Safari's built in RSS reader by clicking the blue RSS icon in the address bar .