get information from the repository

[cmdt]

Hi,
i've just installed Alfresco on my computer.
I've read that is possible to get some information from the repository with posting a simple xml file.

Is that true?
And if so, how can i do that?

Thank you
cmdt

[mrogers]

What "information" do you need?

You can access information via the REST API or web services by POST  "XML files?

[cmdt]

I want to get metadata and also the real file through php posting an xml.

Is that possible?