> Subscription Services > What is RSS?

What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format for distributing and aggregating Web content (such as news headlines). A web site provider packages the information up in a standard format, called a feed, and sends them to anyone who has 'subscribed' to them. Larimer County is offering an RSS feed of the updates to our web site that is offered by our subscription service.

How Do You Subscribe to an RSS 'feed'?

First you need to have a news aggregator (sometimes called a 'newsreader'), a software tool that collects and displays the feeds you choose to subscribe to. There are many programs out there to do this, some are free, some charge a fee. Visit about.com for a list of newreaders categorized by operating system.

Why Would You Want to Subscribe to an RSS feed?

Unlike e-mail subscriptions, RSS feeds don't clutter your e-mail inbox. News aggregators also give you more flexibility in what you subscribe to than e-mail subscriptions, and more flexibility in how information is displayed. And if you read a lot, it can save you time compared to browsing all the sources in your bookmarks or Favorites folder. And it's spam-free.

For more information on RSS, visit the ABC News explanation site.