Combining eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and Active Layer Networking may yield strong benefits for networked services. A Wide range of new Multimedia applications can be developed based on the flexibility of XML and the richness of expression afforded by metadata. XML is an emerging technology that will constitute the foundation of an Object Oriented Web. A system of network intermediaries based on caches, which are also active and driven by XML metadata statements, is described. Keywords XML, Cache, Active Node, Proxylet, HTTP