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What is RSS?
What is RSS?
RSS is an abbreviation for "Really Simple Syndication", and is a protocol that websites use to distribute their content. Websites that use RSS create special files, called "feeds", that are updated periodically to contain the site's latest information.
RSS feeds provide an easy, efficient way to keep track of when a site adds new content. Instead of checking Site A, Site B, and Site C every day to see if there's anything new, you can subscribe to each site's RSS feed and will be instantly notified by your RSS Reader when new content is added.
What is an RSS Reader?
An RSS Reader is a program that you use to view and read RSS feeds. Similar to how an email program can gather messages from multiple email accounts, an RSS Reader gathers feeds from multiple sites so that you can view them in one location.
There are two types of RSS Readers: Web Readers and Desktop Readers. The difference between the two is fairly minimal. The main advantage of Web Readers is that they store all of your subscribed feeds on the internet, so you can access them on any computer. On the other hand, Desktop Readers download subscribed feeds to your hard drive, so you can view them even if you don't have an internet connection.
Where can I get an RSS Reader?
Google Reader (Web), FeedDemon (Windows), and NewsFire (Mac) are popular readers that are available for free. There are many, many other RSS readers available - more information can be found here.
Once you select an RSS Reader, you can start subscribing to RSS feeds.
How do I subscribe to a site's RSS feed?
If a feed exists for a site, many modern browsers will display an RSS icon (
) in the right corner of the location bar. Also, most sites display an RSS icon somewhere on the page. Clicking on either of these icons will allow you to subscribe to the site's feed.
