Which document format is essential for the exchange of information in e-commerce systems?

The correct choice, which is XML, plays a crucial role in the exchange of information in e-commerce systems because of its structured format that allows for the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and systems. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is designed to be both human-readable and machine-readable, making it highly versatile for different types of data representation. Its ability to define custom tags helps in maintaining the context of the data, which is essential when sending complex data structures over the web, particularly in e-commerce where transactions typically involve various details, such as product descriptions, inventory levels, pricing, and user information.

In e-commerce, data interchange happens frequently between different systems, such as between a seller's website and a payment processor or between inventory systems and reporting tools. XML's capability to facilitate this interoperability makes it a preferred choice for cataloging items, managing orders, and integrating functionalities across diverse platforms.

Other formats mentioned have their own strengths but are tailored for different use cases. For example, HTML is primarily used for structuring content on the web, but it does not serve well for data interchange in a scalable way. JSON, while popular for its simplicity and efficiency in data exchange, notably in APIs, is less robust