Question

Say we have this XML file:

<root_element>
    <element_1>
         <hello_element>
            Hello1
         </hello_element>
    </element_1>

    <element_1>
       <element_2>
          ...
          <element_n>
             <hello_element>
                Hello2
             </hello_element>
          </element_n>
          ...
       </element_2>
    </element_1>

</root_element>


$hello = new SimpleXMLElement('hello.xml');
echo $hello->element_1[0]->hello_element;

the output is: Hello1

echo $hello->element_1[1]->element_2-> ... ->element_n->hello_element;

the output is: Hello2

echo $hello->element_1[1]->hello_element;

the output is:

Is it possible to directly access a child element without knowing the name or number of the parent elements ?

Answer 1

Yes, you can. Use xpath

I think $simpleXML->xpath('/*') will get last items.

$simpleXML->xpath('//*/*/*') that will get 3rd level items.

(Not tested)

SimpleXML::xpath