PHP Error: DOMDocument::loadXML() [domdocument.loadxml]: Start tag expected, '<' not found in Entity

Question

Please check this bellow program.

::Program::

      <?php
      $xml='
      &lt;books&gt;
           &lt;book&gt;
                &lt;name&gt;Java complete reference&lt;/name&gt;
                &lt;cost&gt;256&lt;/cost&gt;
           &lt;/book&gt;

           &lt;book&gt;
                &lt;name&gt;Head First PHP and Mysql&lt;/name&gt;
                &lt;cost&gt;389&lt;/cost&gt;
           &lt;/book&gt;
      &lt;/books&gt;';


      $dom=new DOMDocument();
      $dom->loadXML($xml);
      foreach ($dom->getElementsByTagName('book') as $book)
      {
              foreach($book->getElementsByTagName('name') as $name)
              {
                   $names[]=$name->nodeValue;
              }

              foreach($book->getElementsByTagName('cost') as $cost)
              {
                   $costs[]=$cost->nodeValue;
              }
      }
      print_r($names);
      ?>

It is shows error:

DOMDocument::loadXML() [domdocument.loadxml]: Start tag expected, '<' not found in Entity

Is this correct way to do this?

If it is correct, Is there any way to get the proper result without changing this < to < and > to >?

This begs the question why you have <books> instead of <books> in the first place? — VolkerK
– VolkerK, Commented Nov 25, 2011 at 14:00

Trott · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-25 14:00:35Z

3

You should not be using character entities for < and > on things that are actually XML tags in the string that represents your XML. It should be this:

$xml='
  <books>
       <book>
...

Do that and the warning goes away.

You only need to use character entities for < and > when they are part of the actual data rather than delimiting an XML tag.

answered Nov 25, 2011 at 14:00

Trott

70.6k27 gold badges184 silver badges218 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

hakre · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-25 20:31:48Z

3

DOMDocument expects the string to be VALID xml.

Your string isn't a valid XML string. You should just use < in stead of <

Why would you have the htmlentities in that string?

edited Nov 25, 2011 at 20:31

hakre

200k55 gold badges454 silver badges865 bronze badges

answered Nov 25, 2011 at 14:01

PeeHaa

73.1k60 gold badges195 silver badges264 bronze badges

Comments

Fredy31 · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-25 13:58:37Z

2

Aren't you supposed to start with something like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

to create valid XML? That might be the missing start tag your error is talking about.

answered Nov 25, 2011 at 13:58

Fredy31

2,8376 gold badges38 silver badges63 bronze badges

1 Comment

hakre Over a year ago

That part (XML Declaration) is optional.

Hearaman · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-25 14:06:47Z

Thank you all. Just now i have tried with the method "html_entity_decode()". It is worked for me for this example.

::Code::

      <?php
      $xml='
      &lt;books&gt;
           &lt;book&gt;
                &lt;name&gt;Java complete reference&lt;/name&gt;
                &lt;cost&gt;256&lt;/cost&gt;
           &lt;/book&gt;

           &lt;book&gt;
                &lt;name&gt;Head First PHP and Mysql&lt;/name&gt;
                &lt;cost&gt;389&lt;/cost&gt;
           &lt;/book&gt;
      &lt;/books&gt;';


      $xml=html_entity_decode($xml);




      $dom=new DOMDocument();
      $dom->loadXML($xml);
      foreach ($dom->getElementsByTagName('book') as $book)
      {
              foreach($book->getElementsByTagName('name') as $name)
              {
                   $names[]=$name->nodeValue;
              }

              foreach($book->getElementsByTagName('cost') as $cost)
              {
                   $costs[]=$cost->nodeValue;
              }
      }
      print_r($names);
      ?>

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP Error: DOMDocument::loadXML() [domdocument.loadxml]: Start tag expected, '<' not found in Entity

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related