PHP can process XML documents because it has an XML Expat Parser built in.
XML Expat Parser
The Expat parser is one that works based on events.
Check out the following piece of XML:
<from>Ram</from>
The above XML is read by an event-based parser as a set of three events:
- Start element: from
- Start section of CDATA, value: Ram
- Close element: from
The PHP core includes the XML Expat Parser functions. You don’t have to install anything to use these functions.
The XML Document
In the example below, the XML file “example.xml” will be used:
<?xml version=’1.0′ encoding=’UTF-8′?>
<example>
<to>Ram</to>
<from>Shyam</from>
<heading>Message</heading>
<body>Lets do tracking this weekend!</body>
</example>
More PHP XML Expat Parser
Visit our PHP XML Parser Reference page to find out more about the XML Parser reference.