simplexml_load_file to get an object from a XML file

We can create an object by reading a XML file by using simplexml_load_file function in PHP.

simplexml_load_file ( $xml_string,$class_name, $options, ns, is_prefix)

$xml_string : Required , formatted xml data string
$class_name : Optional , return object of specified class
$options : Optional , Additional Libxml parameters
ns : Optional , Namespace prefix
is_prefix : True or False based on ns ( prefix True , URI is false )

Example 1: xml-sample2.xml

<?Php
header('Content-Type: text/xml');

$str_xml = simplexml_load_file("xml-sample2.xml");
$e = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml->asXML());
echo $e->asXML()
?>

Output is here

<details>
<name>Abcd</name>
<address>
<door_no>234-ac</door_no>
<street>Great Wall</street>
<city>Alabama</city>
</address>
</details>

Example 2: Node values, Using xml-sample2.xml

<?Php
//header('Content-Type: text/xml');

$str_xml = simplexml_load_file("xml-sample2.xml");
$e = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml->asXML());
//echo $e->asXML()
echo $e->name; // Output is Abcd 
echo "<br>";
echo $e->address->door_no; // Output is 234-ac
?>

Output is

Abcd
234-ac

Example 3: Multiple Node values, Using file-xml-demo.xml

List all the data

<?Php
header('Content-Type: text/xml');

$str_xml = simplexml_load_file("file-xml-demo.xml");
$e = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml->asXML());
echo $e->asXML();
?>

To list some of the node values

<?Php
//header('Content-Type: text/xml');

$str_xml = simplexml_load_file("file-xml-demo.xml");
$e = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml->asXML());
//echo $e->asXML();
echo $e->details[1]->name; // output Max Ruin
echo "<br>";
echo $e->details[2]->class; // Output is Three 
?>

Output is here

Max Ruin
Three

Let us try listing all by looping

<?Php
//header('Content-Type: text/xml');

$str_xml = simplexml_load_file("file-xml-demo.xml");
$e = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml->asXML());

foreach ($e as $child1) {
echo  "<br>". $child1->getName()." : $child1";
foreach ($child1 as $child2) {
echo "<br>". $child2->getName()." : $child2";
}
}
?>

Output is here ( Part of the output is shown )

details : 
id : 1
name : John Deo
class : Four
details : 
id : 2
name : Max Ruin
class : Three
details : 
id : 3
name : Arnold
class : Three
details : 
id : 4
name : Krish Star
class : Four
details : 

......
.....

XML simpleXML_load_string()

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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