What is XML <! [CDATA []]> for?

Question

In some examples of platforms, has among the tags the <![CDATA []]>, but what’s it for in XML after all?

Template for an XML to be followed by a platform.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<loja>
   <produto>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.loja.com.br/blusas/blusa-feminina?idparceiro=P1]]></link>
      <imagem><![CDATA[http://www.loja.com.br/imagens/blusa-feminina-1.jpg]]></imagem>
      <nome><![CDATA[Blusa feminina vermelha]]></nome>
      <categoria><![CDATA[Blusas Femininas]]></categoria>
      <descricao><![CDATA[Blusa feminina com gola em V e detalhes em strass.]]></descricao>
      <valor><![CDATA[119,00]]></valor>
      <valor_promo><![CDATA[95,90]]></valor_promo>
      <parcelamento><![CDATA[2x R$47,95]]></parcelamento>
      <cor><![CDATA[Vermelho, Azul, Branco]]></cor>
      <marca><![CDATA[Tommy Hilfiger]]></marca>
      <modelo><![CDATA[Único]]></modelo>
      <material><![CDATA[100% algodão]]></material>
      <tamanho><![CDATA[P, M, G]]></tamanho>
      <sexo><![CDATA[Feminino]]></sexo>
   </produto>
</loja>

Answer 1

The CDATA serves to indicate that the text within its area is a common text and cannot be interpreted as part of the XML markup.

This is useful when a part of the text of a particular element can be confused with parts of the XML markup, which is not the case for the example shown. It’s a way to escape the characters.

There must be a specific reason for the platform to use indiscriminately. Perhaps because of the failure of their specification. Perhaps because they have no control over the content and there may be conflicting characters (it may contain HTML). Perhaps for some reason only they can explain (probably via documentation). What is certain is that it should be followed if they send.

An example of good use would be:

<secao><![CDATA[<sexo>Feminino</sexo>]]><secao>

What appears to be a tag XML is just a common text that happens to look like, and probably represents another XML.

Wikipedia.