The new XML PARSE statement parses an XML document, the document being processed sequentially as a data stream. When the parser detects syntax units in the document, such as tags for the start and end of an element, attributes, values, etc., it initiates an event specifically for this purpose. The COBOL program provides a routine for handling such events. The data which characterizes the event is available there in special registers. Here it is important that control is transferred to the COBOL program in the handling routine multiple times – whenever one of the events has occurred – while the XML statement executes, but control must also be returned to the parser. Only when the entire document has been processed in this way or the user has decided not to process it further is the XML statement terminated.