XML schema definition (XSD) assets

An XML schema definition (XSD), is a framework document that defines the rules and constraints for XML documents. An XSD formally describes the elements in an XML document and can be used to validate the contents of the XML document to make sure that it adheres to the rules of the XSD.

You can use the XSD bridge to import XML schema documents. You can view XSD assets in InfoSphere® Information Governance Catalog.

Asset types

The following table lists and defines the types of XSD assets that can be stored in the metadata repository.

Table 1. XML schema definition assets
Asset type	Definition
XML schema definition	A framework document that defines the rules and constraints for XML data documents, which are instances of the XSD. An XSD contains a set of components such as element declarations and type definitions that specify the structure and semantics of elements and attributes. These components provide documentation about data and they can be used to assess the validity of well-formed XML instances.
XSD element	Declares a named structure that can have instance data in XML documents. The structure of an XSD element can simple or complex. Elements can be declared globally or locally. Global elements appear at the top level of a schema document, meaning that the schema must be their parent. They must be unique within the entire schema and can be reused (referenced) in other elements, types, or groups. Local elements are contained within other elements or complex types. They are scoped to the definitions of their parents and cannot be reused in other elements or types
XSD attribute	Models data values in an XML schema. It assigns a name to an attribute and associates it with a simple type. XSD attributes can be declared globally or locally. Global attributes are top-level components that are contained in an XML schema. They must be unique within the containing schema and can be reused (referenced) in other elements, types, or groups. Local attributes are defined within elements or types. They are scoped to the definitions of their parents and cannot be reused in other elements or types.
XSD simple type	A top-level schema component that defines reusable data types for attributes and simple, text-only elements. It constrains the value of an attribute or an element in an XML instance. Every simple type is a restriction of another simple type, which is known as its base type, which can be a built-in type or a user-defined type. Thus, all simple types are direct or indirect derivations of built-in data types. Note: Anonymous simple types, which are not shared, are not represented by simple types. Instead, they are represented within their parent element or attribute definitions.
XSD complex type	A top-level schema component that defines reusable data types for complex elements. XSD complex types have child elements and attributes, and specify constraints on the content of elements. Complex types can be derived from other types by restriction or extension. Note: Anonymous complex types are captured within their parent element definitions.
XSD element group	A top-level schema component that defines a reusable fragment of content elements. It encapsulates a set of elements that are referenced together in many complex elements and types. The name of the group must be unique among all the named element groups.
XSD attribute group	A top-level schema component that defines reusable set of attributes. It encapsulates a set of related attributes that appear in many different elements and complex types.