10. A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions configured to cause a computing device to: determine a first plurality of symbols associated with a first XML file, wherein the first plurality of symbols comprises symbols that indicate a first plurality of data elements of the first XML file and a hierarchical arrangement of the first plurality of data elements of the first XML file, and wherein each symbol of the first plurality of symbols indicates a particular data element of the first plurality of data elements and further indicates a direction to arrive at the particular data element of the first plurality of data elements in a particular level of the first hierarchical arrangement; determine a second plurality symbols associated with a second XML document, wherein the second plurality of symbols comprises symbols that indicate a second plurality of data elements of the second XML file and a hierarchical arrangement of the second plurality of data elements of the second XML file, and wherein each symbol of the second plurality of symbols indicates a particular data element of the second plurality of data elements and further indicates a direction to arrive at the particular data element of the second plurality of data elements in a particular level of the second hierarchical arrangement; compare the first plurality of symbols with the second plurality of symbols; determine, based on the comparing, a first edit transcript that comprises a first plurality of operational changes that may be applied to at least one of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols to arrive at the other of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols; determine, based on the comparing, a second edit transcript that comprises a second plurality of operational changes that may be applied to at least one of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols to arrive at the other of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols; and select one of the first edit transcript or the second edit transcript as an optimal edit transcript based on whether the first number of operational changes is less than the second number of operational changes.
10. A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions configured to cause a computing device to: determine a first plurality of symbols associated with a first XML file, wherein the first plurality of symbols comprises symbols that indicate a first plurality of data elements of the first XML file and a hierarchical arrangement of the first plurality of data elements of the first XML file, and wherein each symbol of the first plurality of symbols indicates a particular data element of the first plurality of data elements and further indicates a direction to arrive at the particular data element of the first plurality of data elements in a particular level of the first hierarchical arrangement; determine a second plurality symbols associated with a second XML document, wherein the second plurality of symbols comprises symbols that indicate a second plurality of data elements of the second XML file and a hierarchical arrangement of the second plurality of data elements of the second XML file, and wherein each symbol of the second plurality of symbols indicates a particular data element of the second plurality of data elements and further indicates a direction to arrive at the particular data element of the second plurality of data elements in a particular level of the second hierarchical arrangement; compare the first plurality of symbols with the second plurality of symbols; determine, based on the comparing, a first edit transcript that comprises a first plurality of operational changes that may be applied to at least one of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols to arrive at the other of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols; determine, based on the comparing, a second edit transcript that comprises a second plurality of operational changes that may be applied to at least one of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols to arrive at the other of the first plurality of symbols or the second plurality of symbols; and select one of the first edit transcript or the second edit transcript as an optimal edit transcript based on whether the first number of operational changes is less than the second number of operational changes. 18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of operational changes of the first edit transcript may be applied to the first plurality of symbols to arrive at the second plurality of symbols, and wherein the second plurality of operational changes of the second edit transcript may be applied to the second plurality of symbols to arrive at the first plurality of symbols.