PHP SimpleXML

PHP SimpleXMLHandles the most common XML tasks, leaving the rest to other extensions.

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What is PHP SimpleXML?

SimpleXML is a new feature in PHP 5.

The SimpleXML extension provides a simple way to get the name and text of an XML element.

Compared to DOM or Expat parsers, SimpleXML can read text data from XML elements in just a few lines of code.

SimpleXML can convert an XML document (or XML string) into an object, for example:

· The element is converted into a single attribute of the SimpleXMLElement object. When there are multiple elements at the same level, they are placed in an array.

· Properties are accessed using an associative array, where the index corresponds to the property name.

· The text inside the element is converted to a string. If an element has multiple text nodes, they are arranged in the order in which they are found.

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SimpleXML is very fast to use when performing basic tasks like:

· Reading/extracting data from XML files/strings

· Edit Text node or attribute

However, when dealing with advanced XML, such as namespaces, it is better to use the Expat parser or XML DOM.

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Installation

Starting with PHP 5, SimpleXML functions are an integral part of PHP core. No installation is required to use these functions.

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PHP SimpleXML Example

Suppose we have the following note.xml file

  Tove Jani Reminder Don't forget me this weekend! 

Now We want to output different information from the above XML file:

Output the keys and elements of the $xml variable (which is a SimpleXMLElement object):

The above code will output:

SimpleXMLElement Object ( [to] => Tove [from] => Jani [heading] => Reminder [body] => Don't forget me this weekend! )

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Example

Output the data of each element in the xml file:

to . "
"; echo $xml->from . "
"; echo $xml->heading . "
"; echo $xml->body; ?>

The above code will output:

Tove
Jani
Reminder
Don't forget me this weekend!

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Output the elements and data of each child node

getName() . "
"; foreach($xml->children() as $child) { echo $child->getName() . ": " . $child . "
"; } ?>

The above code will output:

note
to: Tove
from: Jani
heading: Reminder
body: Don't forget me this weekend!

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##More PHP SimpleXML information

To learn more about PHP SimpleXML functions, visit our PHP SimpleXML Reference Manual.