How to convert SimpleXMLObject into PHP Array?

Question

Consider the following code:

$string = '<device>
    <id>1234</id>
    <label>118</label>
    <username>root</username>
    <password>helloWorld</password>
    <hardware>
        <memory>4GB RAM</memory>
        <storage_drives>
            <storage_drive_1>2TB SATA 7,200RPM</storage_drive_1>
            <storage_drive_2>1TB SATA 7,200RPM</storage_drive_2>
            <storage_drive_3>Not Applicable</storage_drive_3>
            <storage_drive_4>Not Applicable</storage_drive_4>
        </storage_drives>
    </hardware>
</device>';
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement($string);

$deviceDetails = Array();
foreach($xml as $element){
    $tag = $element->getName();
    $deviceDetails +=  Array($tag => '$element->$tag)',
        );
    }

Output $detailsDetails array is as follows:

Array
(
    [id] => $element->$tag)
    [label] => $element->$tag)
    [username] => $element->$tag)
    [password] => $element->$tag)
    [hardware] => $element->$tag)
)

which is wrong.

My question is, how to make $element->$tag work?

Use double quotes instead of single quotes (or none at all)

Pekka
– Pekka

2011-10-15 15:44:51 +00:00
Commented Oct 15, 2011 at 15:44 — Pekka
– Pekka, Commented Oct 15, 2011 at 15:44

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

16

Try this:

$string = '<device>
  <id>1234</id>
  <label>118</label>
  <username>root</username>
  <password>helloWorld</password>
  <hardware>
    <memory>4GB RAM</memory>
     <storage_drives>
      <storage_drive_1>2TB SATA 7,200RPM</storage_drive_1>
      <storage_drive_2>1TB SATA 7,200RPM</storage_drive_2>
      <storage_drive_3>Not Applicable</storage_drive_3>
      <storage_drive_4>Not Applicable</storage_drive_4>
    </storage_drives>
  </hardware>
</device>';
  
$xml = json_decode(json_encode((array) simplexml_load_string($string)), 1);

This will output:

Array
(
    [id] => 1234
    [label] => 118
    [username] => root
    [password] => helloWorld
    [hardware] => Array
        (
            [memory] => 4GB RAM
            [storage_drives] => Array
                (
                    [storage_drive_1] => 2TB SATA 7,200RPM
                    [storage_drive_2] => 1TB SATA 7,200RPM
                    [storage_drive_3] => Not Applicable
                    [storage_drive_4] => Not Applicable
                )

        )

)

or if you don't like this, you can use a PHP class like: http://www.bin-co.com/php/scripts/xml2array/

or view dfsq answer

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Oct 15, 2011 at 15:51

Book Of Zeus

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4 Comments

dfsq Over a year ago

It doesn't work recursively. [storage_drives] => SimpleXMLElement Object.

dfsq Over a year ago

+1 for this method. Although it not really good technic to do like this but for simple small objects it doesn't make sense to use functions etc. to convert object to array.

dfsq Over a year ago

by the way, no need of (array) befor simplexml_load_string

Book Of Zeus Over a year ago

I prefer your method for sure, I just wanted to show a quick & easy way to do it!

dfsq · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-15 16:06:16Z

15

Book Of Zeus code wrapped in function to make it work recursively:

function xml2array($xml)
{
    $arr = array();

    foreach ($xml as $element)
    {
        $tag = $element->getName();
        $e = get_object_vars($element);
        if (!empty($e))
        {
            $arr[$tag] = $element instanceof SimpleXMLElement ? xml2array($element) : $e;
        }
        else
        {
            $arr[$tag] = trim($element);
        }
    }

    return $arr;
}

$xml = new SimpleXMLElement($string);
print_r(xml2array($xml));

Array
(
    [id] => 1234
    [label] => 118
    [username] => root
    [password] => helloWorld
    [hardware] => Array
    (
        [memory] => 4GB RAM
        [storage_drives] => Array
        (
            [storage_drive_1] => 2TB SATA 7,200RPM
            [storage_drive_2] => 1TB SATA 7,200RPM
            [storage_drive_3] => Not Applicable
            [storage_drive_4] => Not Applicable
        )
    )
)

answered Oct 15, 2011 at 16:06

dfsq

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3 Comments

Shackrock Over a year ago

@dfsq - this seems to not work through the entire array, it's like it only returns the first entry for me... is that possible?

Hoa Over a year ago

@Shackrock Check out the solution from Book Of Zeus

notacouch Over a year ago

@shackrock is right, this is great for SimpleXMLElements that do not have any lists. For my own purposes I just removed the $arr[$tag] = ternary line and split it into full conditions, in the case $element is a SimpleXMLElement, do $arr[$tag][] = xml2array($element);. Note the []. Not sure if that's what others would need, however.

4dgaurav · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-14 12:41:49Z

4

Try This:

$array = json_decode(json_encode((array)$xml), TRUE);

edited Jan 14, 2016 at 12:41

4dgaurav

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answered Jan 14, 2016 at 12:36

Pritee chaudhari

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1 Comment

ryanyuyu Over a year ago

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