A spatial marker specified in extensible mark-up language (XML) for use in connection with an XML-based synchronized multimedia presentation. The spatial marker specifies a visual cue for a multimedia element in the presentation, together with the visual appearance of the cue and spatial and temporal characteristics of the cue. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the cue synchronize the cue with the multimedia presentation. In operation, and upon encountering such a spatial marker, an XML-based multimedia browser displaying the multimedia presentation to a user would display the visual cue using the specified visual appearance, and in the spatial and temporal relationships with the multimedia element as specified by the spatial and temporal characteristics of the marker.