Current definitions of the "RSS" acronym vary from "Really Simple Syndication", "RDF Site Summary", to "Rich Site Summary". However, simply stated, RSS is a method for sharing frequently updated information on the Web. Currently it is the dominant technology for syndicating/distributing headline news content. Used by major news distributors and individual "bloggers" alike, RSS feeds typically contain lists of news headlines, summaries, and with links back to the appropriate site content.

Users may subscribe to these RSS feeds using either a downloaded program (RSS reader or "aggregator") or via a Web-based aggregator such as MyYahoo!, Feedster, or Syndic8. When the RSS feed is updated with new content, these changes are reflected in the user's RSS reader, often within minutes.

How Can I Benefit from RSS?

As a user, there are a number of key benefits of RSS:

Timeliness – Automatically receive updates from your favorite Web site when new content becomes available instead of constantly having to visit the Web site.

Efficiency – Quickly scan over headlines and summaries and only read the content that interests you.

Coverage - Receive updates from multiple Web sites into one location - your RSS reader or aggregator.

How Do I Use TechTarget RSS Feeds?

Users have two options available for using TechTarget RSS feeds:

RSS Readers
These are downloadable programs that you must install on your PC. Though there is no standard method for adding an RSS feed to your reader, the typical method involves the following steps:

1. Download and install the reader to your computer.
2. Open your reader.
3. From the TechTarget Web site, click on the orange RSS button that corresponds to the TechTarget RSS feed to which you are interested in subscribing.
4. Once your browser opens the file, copy the URL in the address bar (ie http://rss.techtarget.com/1.xml), paste it into your reader’s address bar and press enter.
5. You may have to click on a “Subscribe” or similar button to subscribe to this feed.

See below for a list of popular readers:

AmphetaDesk – Free RSS reader, works through a browser-based system. (Win/Mac/Linux)

FeedDemon – Commercial, standalone application for Windows.

NewsGator – Commercial plug-in to Microsoft Outlook. Also has free and premium subscriptions to their online aggregator service.

NetNewsWire – Commercial, standalone RSS reader for Macs.

Opera browser – Can subscribe to RSS feeds through Opera Mail. (Win/Mac/Linux)

Pluck – Integrates into Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher for Windows. Offers an RSS reader as well as a host of other tools.

SharpReader – Simple yet effective standalone RSS reader for Windows.

Online RSS Aggregators
These are Web sites which allow you to subscribe to view RSS content via their Web site. Typically these require you to be a member or subscriber of the site. Since all online aggregators have different methods for subscribing to RSS feeds, we suggest that you follow directions for your specific aggregator. Popular online aggregators include:

MyFeedster
MyYahoo!
NewsGator
Sydic8

If required, URL’s (addresses) to TechTarget feeds may be found by clicking on the orange RSS button next to the feed of interest.

Terms of Use

TechTarget feeds are provided free of charge for use by individuals and non-profit organizations for personal, non-commercial uses. We ask that you provide attribution to TechTarget in connection with your use of the feeds. If you provide this attribution in text, please use: "TechTarget". If you provide this attribution with a graphic, please use the corresponding logo that we have included in the feed itself.

We reserve all rights in and to the logos for TechTarget and the TechTarget network of Web sites. Your right to use the logos is limited to providing attribution in connection with these RSS feeds.

We also include the provider of each individual news story in the feed alongside each headline. Please do not alter this for display. We want our news partners to be attributed for their work.

TechTarget reserves the right to require you to cease distributing these feeds at any time for any reason.

Additional Information about RSS

For non-technical people new to RSS:
http://www.faganfinder.com/search/rss.shtml

For experienced Internet users:
http://rss.lockergnome.com/resources/articles/quickstart.phtml
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/

For web developers:
http://www.oreillynet.com/rss/
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2002/12/18/dive-into-xml.html