How to Read and Write XML File in C#

In C#, working with XML files is convenient using the classes available in the System.Xml namespace. Whether you're handling configuration files, data exchange, or custom data storage, XML provides a versatile way to manage structured data. This article explains how to read and write XML files in C# using practical examples.

Reading an XML File

Example: Reading XML with XmlDocument

The XmlDocument class provides a way to load, navigate, and extract data from XML files.

using System;
using System.Xml;

public class XmlReadExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Path to the XML file
        string filePath = "library.xml";

        // Load the XML file into an XmlDocument
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
        doc.Load(filePath);

        // Access nodes using XPath
        XmlNodeList bookNodes = doc.SelectNodes("//book");

        Console.WriteLine("Books in the Library:");
        foreach (XmlNode book in bookNodes)
        {
            string title = book["title"]?.InnerText;
            string author = book["author"]?.InnerText;
            string year = book["year"]?.InnerText;

            Console.WriteLine($"Title: {title}, Author: {author}, Year: {year}");
        }
    }
}

Tips for Reading XML Files

XPath Expressions: Use XPath expressions like //book to navigate through elements efficiently.
Exception Handling: Use try-catch blocks to handle potential file errors gracefully.

Writing to an XML File

Example: Writing XML with XmlWriter

To write XML data to a file, the XmlWriter class provides a flexible way to generate XML content.

using System;
using System.Xml;

public class XmlWriteExample
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Path where the XML file will be created
        string filePath = "library.xml";

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

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

            // Write a book element
            writer.WriteStartElement("book");
            writer.WriteElementString("title", "To Kill a Mockingbird");
            writer.WriteElementString("author", "Harper Lee");
            writer.WriteElementString("year", "1960");
            writer.WriteEndElement(); // book

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

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

Tips for Writing XML Files

XmlWriterSettings: Customize indentation and new-line behavior using XmlWriterSettings.
Well-Formed XML: Ensure that your XML is well-formed by correctly closing all tags.

Conclusion

In C#, reading and writing XML files is straightforward using the System.Xml namespace. By leveraging the XmlDocument and XmlWriter classes, you can handle structured data efficiently for any application.

read and write xml file in c#