Create XML in C#

Creating XML in C# is straightforward with the System.Xml namespace, which provides classes like XmlWriter and XmlDocument to help you generate XML files. This article guides you through creating XML in C# using practical examples.

Using XmlWriter to Create XML

XmlWriter offers a flexible way to write XML documents efficiently. It provides control over the document structure while ensuring well-formed XML.

Example: Writing XML with XmlWriter

using System;
using System.Xml;

public class XmlWriterExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Define the file path to save the XML document
        string filePath = "books.xml";

        // Create XmlWriter settings
        XmlWriterSettings settings = new XmlWriterSettings
        {
            Indent = true,
            NewLineOnAttributes = false
        };

        // Create the XmlWriter object with the specified settings
        using (XmlWriter writer = XmlWriter.Create(filePath, settings))
        {
            // Start the XML document
            writer.WriteStartDocument();
            writer.WriteStartElement("library");

            // Write a book element
            writer.WriteStartElement("book");
            writer.WriteElementString("title", "1984");
            writer.WriteElementString("author", "George Orwell");
            writer.WriteElementString("year", "1949");
            writer.WriteEndElement(); // book

            // Write another book element
            writer.WriteStartElement("book");
            writer.WriteElementString("title", "Brave New World");
            writer.WriteElementString("author", "Aldous Huxley");
            writer.WriteElementString("year", "1932");
            writer.WriteEndElement(); // book

            // Close the root element
            writer.WriteEndElement(); // library
            writer.WriteEndDocument(); // End the document
        }

        Console.WriteLine($"XML document created and saved to {filePath}");
    }
}

Tips for Writing XML

Indentation: Customize indentation using XmlWriterSettings for better readability.
Well-Formed XML: Ensure all tags are correctly closed to produce a well-formed XML document.

Using XmlDocument to Create XML

XmlDocument is more suitable if you prefer an in-memory DOM (Document Object Model) approach to creating XML.

Example: Writing XML with XmlDocument

using System;
using System.Xml;

public class XmlDocumentExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Create an instance of XmlDocument
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Create the root element
        XmlElement root = doc.CreateElement("library");
        doc.AppendChild(root);

        // Create a book element
        XmlElement book1 = doc.CreateElement("book");
        root.AppendChild(book1);

        // Add child elements to the book
        XmlElement title1 = doc.CreateElement("title");
        title1.InnerText = "The Great Gatsby";
        book1.AppendChild(title1);

        XmlElement author1 = doc.CreateElement("author");
        author1.InnerText = "F. Scott Fitzgerald";
        book1.AppendChild(author1);

        XmlElement year1 = doc.CreateElement("year");
        year1.InnerText = "1925";
        book1.AppendChild(year1);

        // Save the XML document to a file
        string filePath = "library.xml";
        doc.Save(filePath);

        Console.WriteLine($"XML document created and saved to {filePath}");
    }
}

Tips for Using XmlDocument

DOM Approach: Use XmlDocument when you need to manipulate the document after creation.
Exception Handling: Always wrap XML operations in a try-catch block to handle potential file I/O errors.

Conclusion

C# provides powerful tools for creating XML files using either XmlWriter or XmlDocument. These examples and tips can help you generate structured XML data efficiently in your applications.

create xml in c#