How to convert array to SimpleXML in PHP

Last Updated : 22 Nov, 2018

Many times need to store the data as a XML format into the database or into the file for later use. To fulfill this requirement need to convert data to XML and save XML file.

The SimpleXML extension functions provides the tool set to convert XML to an object. Those objects deals with normal property selectors and array iterators.

Example 1:

<?php 
// Code to convert php array to xml document 
  
// Define a function that converts array to xml. 
function arrayToXml($array, $rootElement = null, $xml = null) { 
    $_xml = $xml; 
      
    // If there is no Root Element then insert root 
    if ($_xml === null) { 
        $_xml = new SimpleXMLElement($rootElement !== null ? $rootElement : '<root/>'); 
    } 
      
    // Visit all key value pair 
    foreach ($array as $k => $v) { 
          
        // If there is nested array then 
        if (is_array($v)) {  
              
            // Call function for nested array 
            arrayToXml($v, $k, $_xml->addChild($k)); 
            } 
              
        else { 
              
            // Simply add child element.  
            $_xml->addChild($k, $v); 
        } 
    } 
      
    return $_xml->asXML(); 
} 
  
// Creating an array for demo 
$my_array = array ( 
'name' => 'GFG', 
'subject' => 'CS', 
  
    // Creating nested array. 
    'contact_info' => array ( 
    'city' => 'Noida', 
    'state' => 'UP', 
    'email' => 'feedback@geeksforgeeks.org'
    ), 
); 
  
// Calling arrayToxml Function and printing the result 
echo arrayToXml($my_array); 
?> 

Output:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
    <name> GFG </name>
    <subject> CS </subject>
    <contact_info >
        <city > Noida < /city >
        <state > UP < /state >
        <email > feedback@geeksforgeeks.org </email>
    <contact_info>
<root>

The above problem ca be solved using array_walk_recursive() function. This function converts array to xml document where keys of array are converted into values and values of array are converted into element of xml.

Example 2:

<?php 
// Code to convert php array to xml document 
  
// Creating an array 
$my_array = array ( 
    'a' => 'x', 
    'b' => 'y', 
      
    // creating nested array 
    'another_array' => array ( 
        'c' => 'z', 
    ), 
); 
  
// This function create a xml object with element root. 
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<root/>'); 
  
// This function resursively added element 
// of array to xml document 
array_walk_recursive($my_array, array ($xml, 'addChild')); 
  
// This function prints xml document. 
print $xml->asXML(); 
?> 

Output:

<?xml version="1.0"? >
<root >
       <x> a </x >
       <y> b </y >
       <z> c </z >
</root >

Note: If the system generate error of type :PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class ‘SimpleXMLElement’ not found in /home/6bc5567266b35ae3e76d84307e5bdc78.php:24 then simply install php-xml, php-simplexml packages.

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