RSS has been described as Tivo for the Internet...Netflix for the Internet...Podcasting for more than just audio...

"[RSS] Feeds are a way for websites large and small to distribute their content well beyond just visitors using browsers. Feeds permit subscription to regular updates, delivered automatically via a web portal, news reader, or in some cases good old email. Feeds also make it possible for site content to be packaged into "widgets," "gadgets," mobile devices, and other bite-sized technologies that make it possible to display blogs, podcasts, and major news/sports/weather/whatever headlines just about anywhere."

-Google's Feedburner Help Center - Feed 101 Page

Image courtesy of http://www.backinskinnyjeans.com/2006/09/how_to_explain_.html

 
Generic RSS Feed Icon may appear on a web page when a feed is available.

 
Firefox: Blue Feed Icon appears in URL bar when a feed is available.

Internet Explorer: Orange Feed Icon with drop down list of available feeds appears below search box on right when a feed (or feeds) is available.

Safari: Blue RSS icon appears in URL bar when a feed is available.

Other icons may appear within a web page to indicate that a feed is available. (Image courtesy of the RSS Advisory Board)


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
<rss version="2.0">
    <channel>
    <title>W3Schools Home Page</title>
    <link>http://www.w3schools.com</link>
    <description>Free web building tutorials</description>
        <item>
            <title>RSS Tutorial</title>
            <link>http://www.w3schools.com/rss</link>
            <description>New RSS tutorial on W3Schools</description>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>XML Tutorial</title>
            <link>http://www.w3schools.com/xml</link>
            <description>New XML tutorial on W3Schools</description>
        </item>
    </channel>
</rss>

Sample courtesy of the W3 Schools

Most recent headlines from the journal Nature. Mouse over each headline for a summary.

YouTube video from Common Craft.