scope:

Purpose and Audience

The NISO Metasearch XML Gateway (MXG) is a low-barrier-to-entry method to expose content to metasearch services and more effectively interoperate with metasearching applications. The MXG protocol defines a simple message and response which allows a metasearch service to query a content database and receive a standardized XML response.

The MXG protocol is primarily directed to Content Providers who wish to expose their resources to one or more metasearch providers without expending substantial development resources. Metasearch Providers who will be using a Content Provider's MXG to access resources will also find this guide useful.