What is an RSS Feed? (in simple terms)

So what is an RSS Feed?

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” An RSS feed is a way for websites to share their content with other websites or users. It’s like a constantly updated list of the latest articles or blog posts from a website.

Instead of having to visit each website individually to check for updates, you can subscribe to their RSS feed using a feed reader or aggregator. The feed reader will periodically check for updates and display the new content in one place. This makes it easy to keep up with multiple websites without having to constantly visit each one.

RSS feeds are often used by news sites, blogs, and other websites that produce a lot of new content. They allow users to quickly and easily stay informed about the latest news and updates.

Why would I use one?

Well, as it turns out, you probably use one every single day if you’re like me. I listen to Podcasts daily so here’s the scoop:

A podcast is essentially an RSS feed that contains audio files. Like any RSS feed, a podcast uses an XML file to organize and distribute its content. The XML file contains information about the podcast, such as the title, author, description, and links to the audio files.

When a user subscribes to a podcast, they are essentially subscribing to its RSS feed. The podcast app or software will periodically check the feed for new episodes and download them automatically. This makes it easy for users to stay up-to-date with their favorite podcasts without having to manually download each episode.

In summary, a podcast is an RSS feed that is specifically designed for distributing audio content. It uses the same basic technology and structure as any other RSS feed, but is tailored to the needs of podcasters and their listeners.

There you have it…

No links, no affiliates, no nonsense but now you have your answer! You’re welcome. If you haven’t checked it out already, I’m the podcast guy of DFW and I run several podcasts about all sorts of different stuff. S T A Y T O A S T Y