1. An XML application module that receives an XML character stream, which module comprises: an XML interface module, a parallel bit stream module, a lexical item stream module, a parser and a parsed data receiver wherein: the XML interface module applies the character stream as input to the parallel bit stream module and to the parser; the parallel bit stream module, in response to the character stream: (a) forms a plurality of parallel property bit streams Pj wherein each of the parallel property bit streams consists of a stream of bit values Pj(i) such that Pj(i) is a property associated with code unit C(i) of the character stream; (b) segments the parallel property bit streams into blocks, each block consisting of bit values Pj(i) at a multiplicity of positions i; and (c) applies the blocks as input to the lexical item stream module; the lexical item stream module processes the blocks to form lexical item streams marking predetermined XML lexical items and applies the lexical item streams as input to the parser; the parser, in response to the lexical item streams and the character stream, forms a stream of parsed XML data and applies the stream of parsed XML data as input to the parsed data receiver; and the parsed data receiver processes the stream of parsed XML data.