PHP using XPath not returning value

Question

I'm trying to use XPath with PHP and I can't get it to simply return a value. Could someone please let me know what I'm doing wrong?

The result I get is:

Array ( [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object ( ) )

but W3Schools says the result is supposed to be:

Array
(
[0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
  (
  [0] => Jani
  )
)

Here's what I'm using:

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <note>
    <to>Tove</to>
    <from>Jani</from>
    <heading>Reminder</heading>
    <body>Don't forget me this weekend!</body>
  </note>

PHP:

<?php
    $XMLfile = "test.xml";

    $xml = simplexml_load_file($XMLfile);
    $result = $xml->xpath("from");
    print_r($result);
?>

How about simply echo $xml->from?

Phil
– Phil

2014-02-19 02:31:54 +00:00
Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 2:31 — Phil
– Phil, Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 2:31

Wayne · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-19 15:42:39Z

1

Nobody is getting it. But I know what you are missing JaceG.

You are expecting print_r to show you 'Jani', but neither var_dump or print_r will show you 'Jani'.

Please add this after your print_r to test.

foreach ($result as $le_result)
      echo $le_result;

And there will be 'Jani'.

Neither var_dump or print_r, display useful output on DOM Objects. You have to look at them yourself.

edited Feb 19, 2014 at 15:42

Wayne

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answered Feb 19, 2014 at 2:36

André Catita

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1 Comment

Wayne Over a year ago

Just to elaborate on why OP's expression works (since I found it surprising): simplexml_load_file($XMLfile) returns a reference to the root element, not the document itself.

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