An RSS feed is an XML file that provides content or summaries of content, including links to the full versions of the content and other metadata, that a user can subscribe to using an RSS aggregator.

Say that again??

RSS stands for "really simple syndication."  By syndication we mean a way of publishing web content in multiple places simultaneously.  So, if you want to publish content from one website onto another, you use an RSS feed.  Of course, that means that the original publisher needs to make the content available via an RSS feed.

The technology used to syndicate the content is XML files.  An RSS reader or aggregator is used to publish the content on another site.

Why would you use an RSS feed?

Quite simply, it can be more efficient.  If you like to catch up on news from specific sites, you no longer have to navigate to each and every site.  Instead, you can set up an RSS feed on your personal homepage and the latest updates from your favorite websites will update on your homepage.

RSS Readers are often integrated with internet homepage offerings (Such as Google or Yahoo.)  There are also RSS Readers that work within windows applications like Outlook, with Linux or with Mac OS X.