What is RSS?

RSS is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a "feed", "web feed", or "channel", contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that’s easier than checking them manually.

RSS content can be read using software called an "RSS reader", "feed reader" or an "aggregator". The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed’s link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user’s subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds.

Definition Via Wikipedia

So what does this all mean? RSS is a way for you to see the latest posts on your favorite websites without actually having to visit them. The aggregator you install on your computer keeps tabs on the websites you desginate and provides you with short descriptions (snippets) of the latest articles/posts/comments that were published to that site.

How Do I Use RSS?

If you use some of the latest browsers out there (Firefox 2, IE 7) you will be able to use your browser as an RSS aggregator.

Screenshot of Firefox address bar displaying the Gil’s Method RSS feed.

When you click on the orange RSS icon, the Gil’s Method Feed will be added to your browsers feed list.