List Definition (Schema.xml) Files
Applies to: SharePoint Foundation 2010
A list template Feature includes a Schema.xml file that serves as the base file for a list definition. The List element is the root element of a Schema.xml file, which contains default view definitions, definitions for special fields used in the list, the toolbar definition for list views, content type declarations, and other metadata for the list.
A list definition includes a Feature.xml file, an element manifest file (see List Template Files), and a Schema.xml file within a Feature folder (%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\14\TEMPLATE\FEATURES). For an example that shows how to create a custom list definition, see How to: Create a Custom List Definition.