What is RSS?
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It is an easy way to stay updated automatically with relevant information from specific websites. Automated notifications will appear every time your favourite websites post something new.

Most people need to track a number of these websites, but this becomes difficult once there are more than a handful of sources.

To enable this, a Web site will make a feed, or channel, available, just like any other file or resource on the server. Once a feed is available, computers can regularly fetch the file to get the most recent items on the list. Most often, people will do this with a News Reader (or aggregator), a program that manages a number of lists and presents them in a single interface.
How to start using RSS feeds
In general, the first thing you need is a News Reader. There are many different versions, some of which are accessed using a browser, and some of which are downloadable applications.

Once you have chosen a News Reader, all you have to do is to decide on the content. For example, you can subscribe news from a news agency, the weather forecast or any other website notifications available.

Each reader has a slightly different way of adding a new feed (also called a 'channel'). Here's how it normally works:

  • Copy the URL of a page, which you'll see in the Address field of your browser, and
  • Follow the instructions in your particular News Reader as to where to paste the URL.
After updating an RSS feed, the only source of information becomes the News Reader as it will automatically update the most recent data.
How do I get a News Reader?
There are many News Readers available on the web, many of which can be downloaded free while other will charge for more customizable options. Naturally, they work on different operating systems, so you will need to take this into account when you make your choice.

In our Procurement Portal we provided a list of common Readers. Please note that these links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by IDB of such third-party web sites.
 
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