1. A method of parsing, comprising: receiving an XML stream; parsing said XML stream on encountering a parent element in said XML stream, utilizing an XML schema to locate a type for said parent element; where said type is a complex type, determining whether a mixed flag for said complex type in said schema is set to true; where said mixed flag is set to true, interpreting fragments embedded in said parent element in accordance with said complex type, each fragment being one of an arbitrary string and an element; where, in accordance with said complex type, an embedded fragment corresponds to a dummy element having a simple type, with one of (i) a name of said dummy element and (ii) a name of said simple type being one of a predetermined set of names, interpreting said embedded fragment as one of an embedded simple type and an inherited simple type.