title: Meaning of - <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
body: <p>I am new to XML and I am trying to understand the basics. I read the line below  in "Learning XML", but it is still not clear, for me. Can someone point me to a book or website which explains these basics clearly?</p>
  
  <p>From <em>Learning XML</em>:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The XML declaration describes some of the most general properties of
    the document, telling the XML processor that it needs an XML parser to
    interpret this document.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>What does this mean?</p>
  
  <p>I understand the <code>xml version</code> part - both doc and user of doc should "talk" in the same version of XML. But what about the <code>encoding</code> part? Why is that necessary?</p>