History of data and documents — judge the statement: “It took the popularity of the Internet to realize that database processing and document processing need each other.” State whether this is correct or incorrect.

Introduction / Context:
Before the web era, document processing (publishing, SGML) and database processing (relational systems) often lived in separate worlds. The rise of the Internet and web applications created a massive need to combine narrative content with structured data in unified experiences (e.g., e-commerce product pages, news sites, portals). This item asks whether the Internet’s popularity catalyzed recognition of their interdependence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The “Internet” refers to the 1990s onward explosion of the web and web services.
• XML, XSLT, and later JSON-based APIs emerged to bridge content and data.
• Businesses needed to reuse the same data across documents, websites, and services.

Concept / Approach:
Web-scale integration highlighted the need for formats that support both presentation and data interchange. XML provided a common syntax, enabling publishing pipelines and data exchange. Databases began supporting XML types and shredding; content management systems integrated with databases; dynamic web pages combined templates with data sources. Thus, the Internet’s demands made this convergence widely apparent and operational.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider how CMS platforms, e-commerce, and portals rely on both content (documents/templates) and data (catalogs, inventory). Industry adoption of XML/JSON APIs substantiates the convergence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• “Incorrect” ignores the clear historical trend.
• “Only after JSON” is anachronistic; XML and the early web already demonstrated the need.
• “SGML solved it fully” overstates pre-web adoption; SGML was niche compared to web-scale needs.

Common Pitfalls:
Treating this as an absolute technical claim rather than a historical observation; overlooking that convergence occurred gradually but was accelerated by the web’s ubiquity.

Final Answer:
Correct