A method for processing XML documents in a computer-based system includes associating each of a plurality of information items with a corresponding one of a plurality of binary-data units and providing a XML document associated with a XML information set comprising one or more of the plurality of information items. The method includes serializing the XML document into a binary XML format, or de-serializing the XML document from the binary XML format. Serializing includes translating the one or more information items of the XML information set into their corresponding one or more binary-data units. De-serializing includes translating one or more binary-data units of the binary XML format into their corresponding one or more information items. A computer readable medium is encoded with a program for execution on at least one processor. The program, when executed on the at least one processor, can perform the method for processing XML documents.