Which characteristic specifically describes a markup language?

A markup language is specifically characterized by its use of tags that surround text to indicate how the text should be formatted or structured. These tags are not meant for programming logic or execution like traditional programming languages; rather, they are used to delineate elements in a document, such as headings, paragraphs, and links. For example, in HTML (a common markup language), tags such as <p> for paragraphs or <h1> for headings provide information about how the content should be presented in a web browser.

This focus on formatting distinguishes markup languages from programming languages, which are governed by rules concerning logic and control structures. Similarly, markup languages do not require a compiler for execution, as they are generally interpreted by browsers or rendering engines that read the tags and format the content accordingly. Additionally, while markup languages can be used for data storage, their primary function is not limited to that; they are designed to facilitate the presentation and organization of information.