The Commission also issued a concept release today seeking public comment on:
- the benefits of tagging data to improve reporting quality and efficiency;
- the implications of tagging data for filers, investors, the Commission and other market participants; and
- the adequacy and efficacy of XBRL as a format for reporting financial information.
Data tagging is gaining prominence as a format for enhancing financial reporting data using eXtensible Mark-Up Language (XML) derivatives, such as XBRL. Tagging provides greater context to data through standard definitions that turn text-based information, such as the filings currently contained in the Commission's EDGAR system, into documents that can be retrieved, searched and analyzed through automated means. Data tags describe information such as items included in financial statements. This enables investors and other marketplace participants to analyze data from different sources and allows for the automatic exchange of financial information across various software platforms, including web services.
The full text of the proposed rule can be accessed on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed.shtml. The full text of the concept release can be accessed on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov/rules/concept.shtml.