SimpleXML
PHP Manual

SimpleXMLElement->children()

(PHP 5 >= 5.0.1)

SimpleXMLElement->children() — Finds children of given node

Description

SimpleXMLElement
SimpleXMLElement children ([ string $ns [, bool $is_prefix ]] )

This method finds the children of the element of which it is a member. The result follows normal iteration rules.

Note: SimpleXML has made a rule of adding iterative properties to most methods. They cannot be viewed using var_dump() or anything else which can examine objects.

Parameters

ns

is_prefix

Default to FALSE

Return Values

ChangeLog

Version Description
5.2.0 The optional parameter is_prefix was added.

Examples

Example#1 Traversing a children() pseudo-array

<?php
$xml 
= new SimpleXMLElement(
'<person>
 <child role="son">
  <child role="daughter"/>
 </child>
 <child role="daughter">
  <child role="son">
   <child role="son"/>
  </child>
 </child>
</person>'
);

foreach (
$xml->children() as $second_gen) {
    echo 
' The person begot a ' $second_gen['role'];

    foreach (
$second_gen->children() as $third_gen) {
        echo 
' who begot a ' $third_gen['role'] . ';';

        foreach (
$third_gen->children() as $fourth_gen) {
            echo 
' and that ' $third_gen['role'] .
                
' begot a ' $fourth_gen['role'];
        }
    }
}
?>

The above example will output:

The person begot a son who begot a daughter; The person begot a daughter who begot a son; and that son begot a son


SimpleXML
PHP Manual