Can any1 suggest me what is difference between RSS and Atom?

I pretty or rather very new to these things.
I like to know what is difference between RSS and Atom.
I am also little confuse about the terms. I have read articles but still little confuse.

So far I have understand is RSS (Really Simple Syndication ) helps user/clients to receive update information where user/client registers. Is that it? And how does he receives such information: from email??

I am sorry I am very new to this term and I know DP members will help me to understand this..

Thanks

 

RSS ans Atom are two different types of XML Feed. XML is the underlying language used to provide the feed, and when you come to implement it, you choose to use either RSS or Atom.

An RSS Feed or an Atom Feed is just an XML file on your web server. You update this file as your information updates.

A user subscribes to your Feed by telling a program that they are running the URL of your XML file. This program might be their web browser or a news reader, or any program that can display XML Feeds. Then their program peridocally checks the XML file on your web server to see if it has changed. It displays the latest information to the user.

For more information, check out these articles:
http://www.mezzoblue.com/archives/2004/05/19/what_is_rssx/
http://intertwingly.net/moin-1.2.1/wiki/cgi-bin/moin.cgi/Rss20AndAtom10Compared
http://www.faganfinder.com/search/rss.php

Also, I suggest you check out the "subscribe to this page" option under the "bookmarks" menu in firefox (or similar feature in IE or whatever browser you use). Also, download a news reader program and play around with it. Once you have used these technologies as a user of your site would, you will see how they work.

 

thanx your this post was really very helpful to me.