asXML to get string from an XML object and to write to file

Convert an XML object to a string

asXML() can return the XML document as a string or write it directly to a file.

<?php
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<book><title>PHP</title></book>');
$xmlText = $xml->asXML();
echo $xmlText;
?>

The examples below show additional XML structures, return values, and practical uses.

We have seen how we can create a SimpleXMLElement object. Now we will translate the XML data to a string by using asXML function. Here is the sample code. We have already used our XML data sample file for this.

xml-sample1.php

<?php
require "xml-sample1.php";
$main1 = new SimpleXMLElement($str_xml);
echo $main1->asXML(); // string output
?>

To write the same string to a file we will change the above code like this.

echo $main1->asXML('data.xml'); // writing to file

The call writes the XML document to data.xml and returns true on success or false on failure. Use an application-controlled path and verify that the target directory is writable.

Example 1: Creating and Displaying XML

<?php
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<root></root>');
$xml->addChild('item', 'Apple');
echo $xml->asXML();  // Output: XML string
?>

Example 2: Writing XML to a File

<?php
$xml->asXML('data.xml');  // Writes XML to a file named data.xml
?>

Example 3: Adding Multiple Elements to XML

<?php
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<fruits></fruits>');
$xml->addChild('fruit', 'Apple');
$xml->addChild('fruit', 'Banana');
$xml->addChild('fruit', 'Cherry');
echo $xml->asXML();  // Output: XML string with all fruits
?>

Example 4: Adding Attributes to XML Elements

<?php
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<books></books>');
$book = $xml->addChild('book', 'PHP Programming');
$book->addAttribute('id', '101');
echo $xml->asXML();  // Output: XML string with attributes
?>

XML XML Children

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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