XRD – Extensible Resource Descriptor

XRD is a simple generic format for describing resources. Resource descriptor documents provide machine-readable information about resources (resource metadata) for the purpose of promoting interoperability, and assist in interacting with unknown resources that support known interfaces.

For example, a web page about an upcoming meeting can provide in its descriptor document the location of the meeting organizer’s free/busy information to potentially negotiate a different time. The descriptor for a social network profile page can identify the location of the user’s address book as well as accounts on other sites. A web service implementing an API protocol can advertise which of the protocol’s optional components are supported.

Specification

XRD 1.0 was published on November 1st, 2010 as an OASIS Standard.

Recent posts on the subject:

• An Introduction to OExchange
• JRD, the Other Resource Descriptor
• The Light at the End of the Discovery Tunnel
• 2009 Year-End Status Report
• XRD Alignment with Link Syntax
• The Discovery Protocol Stack, Redux
• Host-meta (aka Site-meta) and Well-Known URIs
• Implementing WebFinger
• OpenID and LRDD
• Internet Identity Workshop, the Identity Geekfest
• XRD vs. XRDS, Side by Side Comparison
• (XRD) Weekly Recap
• The XRD Extensibility Model
• XRD Document Structure
• XRD-Based OAuth Discovery Sneak-Peek