SimpleXMLElement::children

(PHP 5 >= 5.0.1, PHP 7)

Finds children of given node

public SimpleXMLElement SimpleXMLElement::children ([ string $ns [, bool $is_prefix = false ]] )

This method finds the children of an element. 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:

An XML namespace.

is_prefix

If is_prefix is TRUE, ns will be regarded as a prefix. If FALSE, ns will be regarded as a namespace URL.

Returns:

Returns a SimpleXMLElement element, whether the node has children or not.

Changelog:

5.2.0

The optional parameter is_prefix was added.

Examples:

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

Using namespaces

<?php
$xml = '<example xmlns:foo="my.foo.urn">
  <foo:a>Apple</foo:a>
  <foo:b>Banana</foo:b>
  <c>Cherry</c>
</example>';
 
$sxe = new SimpleXMLElement($xml);
 
$kids = $sxe->children('foo');
var_dump(count($kids));
 
$kids = $sxe->children('foo', TRUE);
var_dump(count($kids));
 
$kids = $sxe->children('my.foo.urn');
var_dump(count($kids));
 
$kids = $sxe->children('my.foo.urn', TRUE);
var_dump(count($kids));
 
$kids = $sxe->children();
var_dump(count($kids));
?>

int(0)
int(2)
int(2)
int(0)
int(1)