MedWatch RSS Feed

Frequently Asked Questions: RSS 

What Is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's an easy way for you to keep up with new safety information that's important to you, and helps you avoid the conventional methods of browsing or searching for information on the web. Now the content you want can be delivered directly to you without cluttering your inbox with e-mail messages. This content is called a "feed."

RSS is written in the Internet coding language known as XML (eXtensible Markup Language). RSS feeds are often identified by the RSS icon .

What Is an RSS Reader?

An RSS reader is a small software program that collects and displays RSS feeds. It allows you to scan headlines from a number of news sources in a central location. 

Where Can I Get an RSS Reader?

Some browsers -- such as the current versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari -- have built-in RSS readers. If you're using a browser that doesn't currently support RSS, there are a variety of RSS readers available on the web. Some are free to download and others are available for purchase.

How Do I Use RSS Feeds?

Each reader has a slightly different way of adding a new feed, also called a "channel." Follow the directions for your reader. Some web browsers with built-in News Readers are "aware" of an available RSS feed; they make it easy for you to subscribe by providing a subscribe button. To add the MedWatch RSS feed manually:

• Copy this URL into your "Add New Channel" section of your RSS reader: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/MedWatch/rss.xml
• The RSS feed will start to display and regularly update the headlines for you.

I clicked on an RSS link and just saw a bunch of code. What is that?

The code you see is the XML code used by your news reader to get the content you want. The RSS link (address) is for your RSS reader to gather the content. To add the MedWatch RSS feed to your news reader, copy the address of the XML page and paste into your news reader, as described above.