Concept of parse XML file in PHP

This tutorial teaches us about parsing XML in PHP programming language with some easy and cool examples. This is the right place to understand this concept.

What is XML?

• Extensible Markup Language(XML) is a flexible and responsive text form or format extracted from SGML.
• It is a Markup Language similar to Hypertext Markup Language(HTML).
• It is frequently used to store and move data.
• XML uses tags to initialize elements.
• Not having any in-build tags, users can create their tags.
• XML document Contains metadata.

Metadata: Data about data is called Metadata.

XML vs HTML: 

XML and HTML are both Markup Languages used to structure data, but they have different purposes and structures.

Purpose: Users use XML to store and move data with user-defined tags, while HTML uses predefined tags to display data and the format of a web page.

Structure: XML imposes strict syntax rules, is case-sensitive, and prioritizes data representation. On the other hand, HTML maintains flexibility and readability in syntax, it is not case-sensitive and focuses on showing content.

What are the uses of XML?

It is globally across different domains to store and describe combined data.

• Data exchange and storage.
• Define and store metadata.
• Synchronize data objects etc.
• To store Configuration Files.
• Data exchange between different Operating Systems (OS).
• Describe the configuration of web services and data format for interaction.
• Data organization and sharing etc.

What is parse XML?

Parsing XML refers to studying an XML document and changing it into a simple format that computer programs can easily operate and use.

This process involves interpreting(translating) the hierarchical structure of XML documents and data and then transforming this information into data structures such as arrays and dictionaries in a programming language.

The SimpleXML extension smooths this process by offering an object-oriented approach to accusing XML elements.

We are using XML in PHP

Let’s see the example,

<tutorial>
   <topic>
      <name>HTML</name>
      <level>Advance</level>
      <duration>720 Hours</duration>
   </topic>
   <topic>
      <name>CSS</name>
      <level>Beginner</level>
      <duration>400 Hours</duration>
   </topic>
</tutorial>

<?php
$xml=simplexml_load_file('data.xml');
$data=$xml->topic[1]->name; # topic is define as an array
echo $data; # print the value
?>

Output:

CSS

For more understanding,  Parse XML in PHP

DISPLAY XML DATA ON A WEBPAGE WITHOUT PARSING

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