Which standard for data handling and interchange is used for structured documents? 

The Correct answer is XML.

Key Points

• Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a versatile markup language and file format used to store, transmit, and reconstruct diverse data.
• It establishes rules for encoding documents in a format that's understandable by humans and machines alike.
• Structured documents, such as configuration files, web data, and even documents like invoices or scientific data, benefit from XML's flexibility
• The World Wide Web Consortium introduced XML in 1998 through its XML 1.0 Specification, alongside other open standards that also define XML.

Additional Information

• PDF.
  • ​PDF, standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format introduced by Adobe in 1992.
  • It presents documents with text, images, and formatting, regardless of software or hardware.
  • Each PDF file encompasses a fixed-layout document description, including fonts, graphics, and more.
  • PDF is rooted in Adobe's "The Camelot Project" from 1991. Standardized as ISO 32000 in 2008, the latest version, ISO 32000-2:2020, was released in December 2020.
• ​JPEG.
  • ​JPEG, short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is a widely used technique for compressing digital images, especially from digital photography.
  • The standard was established by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992. 
• ​GIF89A.
  • ​Introduced in 1989, the GIF89a standard succeeded the original GIF87a standard. Known as an animated GIF, it crafts animated pictures within a single image.
  • Additionally, this standard facilitates image transparency. In the animated image here, the GIF showcases "Computerhope.com Free computer help!"