What is a significant difference between HTML and XML?

The correct answer highlights a fundamental distinction in purpose between HTML and XML. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is primarily designed for displaying data to users in a structured format, such as web pages. It is focused on how information is presented and includes various tags specifically intended for styling, layout, and user interaction.

On the other hand, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is designed for storing and transporting data. Its primary goal is to facilitate the sharing of structured information across different systems, platforms, and applications. XML emphasizes the semantics of the data rather than how it is displayed, allowing for a more flexible way of representing data in a hierarchical format.

This distinction in purpose reflects a significant difference between the two languages: HTML is about presentation, while XML is about data representation and storage. Understanding this difference is essential for web development, as it informs how practitioners choose to utilize these technologies based on their requirements for user interface versus data handling.