simplexml_load_string to get an object from a XML formatted string

Load XML from a string

simplexml_load_string() converts a well-formed XML string into a SimpleXMLElement object. Check for false before reading elements.

<?php
libxml_use_internal_errors(true);
$xmlText = '<student><name>Alex</name></student>';
$xml = simplexml_load_string($xmlText);

if ($xml !== false) {
    echo $xml->name;
}
?>

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

Use simplexml_load_string() to parse a well-formed XML string into a SimpleXMLElement object. Check the return value with === false when parsing data that can fail.

simplexml_load_string(string $data, ?string $class_name = SimpleXMLElement::class, int $options = 0, string $namespace_or_prefix = "", bool $is_prefix = false): SimpleXMLElement|false

$data: required XML string.
$class_name: optional SimpleXMLElement subclass.
$options: optional libxml flags.
$namespace_or_prefix: namespace URI or prefix.
$is_prefix: set to true when the previous argument is a prefix.

Here we will take our sample XML formatted string.

xml-sample1.php

<?php
require "xml-sample1.php";
$str=simplexml_load_string($str_xml);
print_r($str);
?>

The Output is here.

SimpleXMLElement Object ( [name] => Abcd [address] => SimpleXMLElement Object ( [door_no] => 234-ac [street] => Great Wall [city] => Alabama ) )

Example 2

<?php
$str_xml = <<<XML
<?xml version='1.0' standalone='yes'?>
<details>
<name>Abcd</name>
<address>
  <door_no>234-ac</door_no>
  <street>Great Wall</street>
  <city>Alabama</city>
</address>
</details>
XML;
$str=simplexml_load_string($str_xml);
print_r($str);
?>

Output is here

SimpleXMLElement Object ( [name] => Abcd [address] => SimpleXMLElement Object ( [door_no] => 234-ac [street] => Great Wall [city] => Alabama ) )

Example 3

<?php
$str_xml = <<<XML
<?xml version='1.0' standalone='yes'?>
<details>
<name>Abcd</name>
<address>
  <door_no>234-ac</door_no>
  <street>Great Wall</street>
  <city>Alabama</city>
</address>
</details>
XML;
$str=simplexml_load_string($str_xml);
echo $str->address->count(); // Output is 1 
echo "<br>";
echo $str->address[0]->count(); // Output is 3 
echo "<br>";
echo $str->address[0]->street; // Output is Great Wall 
echo "<br>";
echo $str->address->city; // Output is Alabama 
?>

XML XML count()

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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