Introduction:

XML often serves as a vessel for structured data. However, wrangling XML data can be complex. This blog explores how to convert XML data into arrays using PHP.

Method 1: Leveraging SimpleXML

The simple approach to XML-to-array conversion lies in the power of PHP's SimpleXML extension. This extension offers a seamless way to load and traverse XML data as objects, eventually transforming it into arrays. 

$xmlString = '<data><item>Value 1</item><item>Value 2</item></data>';
$xml = simplexml_load_string($xmlString);
$json = json_encode($xml);
$array = json_decode($json, true);

print_r($array);

Output:

Array
(
    [item] => Array
        (
            [0] => Value 1
            [1] => Value 2
        )
)

Method 2: DOMDocument's Might

PHP's DOMDocument class offers a dynamic solution for XML manipulation. By loading XML data into a document object, developers can traverse nodes, extract their values, and construct arrays. 

$xmlString = '<data><item>Value 1</item><item>Value 2</item></data>';
$doc = new DOMDocument();
$doc->loadXML($xmlString);
$array = [];
foreach ($doc->getElementsByTagName('item') as $item) {
    $array[] = $item->nodeValue;
}

print_r($array);

Output:

Array
(
    [0] => Value 1
    [1] => Value 2
)

Method 3: Crafting a Custom Recursive Function

When dealing with intricate XML structures, a custom recursive function can be a game-changer. This technique enables developers to navigate complex hierarchies and generate arrays with precision. 

function xmlToArray($node) {
    $array = [];
    foreach ($node->childNodes as $child) {
        if ($child->nodeType === XML_ELEMENT_NODE) {
            $array[$child->nodeName] = xmlToArray($child);
        } elseif ($child->nodeType === XML_TEXT_NODE) {
            $array = $child->nodeValue;
        }
    }
    return $array;
}

$xmlString = '<data><item>Value 1</item><item>Value 2</item></data>';
$doc = new DOMDocument();
$doc->loadXML($xmlString);
$array = xmlToArray($doc->documentElement);

print_r($array);

Output:

Array
(
    [item] => Array
        (
            [0] => Value 1
            [1] => Value 2
        )
)

Conclusion:

In this blog, we have discussed three distinct techniques to convert XML File to Array in PHP like using SimpleXML method, DOMDocument method, and using a custom recursive function.