What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) lets web publishers distribute information to web users, and lets web users collect this information from many different sources across the Internet. By using a special RSS "aggregator," or reader, you can subscribe to free "feeds" that include headlines, summaries, links, and even audio files and photos, from web sites that interest you. A feed is posted in a format called XML, which is displayed by the RSS reader according to the preferences you determine. When you see the or symbols on a web page, it means there's an RSS feed available.

You can browse RSS feeds in a manner similar to reading incoming e-mail messages, and then click a link to see more information about an individual item. You can also build an RSS aggregator into your own web site or blog, so that you can automatically present fresh content to people reading your site.

For example, Chesterfield County Press Releases are available as an RSS feed. You can use your RSS reader to subscribe to:

http://www.chesterfield.gov/publicaffairs/RSS/press_release_rss.asp

and receive press releases from the county as soon as they're posted.