How do I handle NULL values in XML?

Options: omit element, empty element ( ), xsi:nil attribute, or explicit value. xsi:nil="true" is XML Schema standard for NULL.

What about special characters?

Entity encode: & → &, → >, " → ", ' → '. Or wrap in CDATA: for complex content.

How do I add namespaces?

Add xmlns attribute to root element. Use prefixes for elements: . Namespaces enable schema validation.

Should I use elements or attributes?

Elements for data values (more flexible, can be complex). Attributes for metadata (id, type). Elements are generally preferred for database data.

SQL to XML

Guide & TutorialOffline

Convert SQL query results to XML format

Convert SQL query results to XML format instantly with our free online SQL to XML converter. This tool helps developers transform SQL data into XML structure for data interchange and legacy systems. Simply paste your SQL results and get XML output in real-time.

Root Element:

Row Element:

SQL Query Result

0 characters, 1 lines

XML Output

About SQL to XML Conversion

Convert SQL query result tables to XML format with customizable root and row element names.

Supported formats:

Pipe-separated: id | name | age
Comma-separated: id,name,age
Tab-separated: Headers and values separated by tabs

Features:

Customizable root and row element names
Automatic XML escaping (&, <, >, ", ')
Element name sanitization (removes invalid characters)
Properly formatted XML with declaration

About SQL to XML

SQL to XML converter transforms SQL query results into XML format. XML provides structured, self-describing data with schema validation capabilities. Essential for enterprise integration, SOAP services, and systems requiring strict data contracts.

How It Works

Each row becomes an XML element with child elements for columns. Root element wraps all rows. Column names become element names (sanitized for XML validity). Attributes can optionally hold metadata like types or nullability.

Technical Details

XML 1.0 spec requires valid element names (no spaces, must start with letter/underscore). Special characters (&, <, >, ", ') must be entity-encoded. Namespaces can provide schema context. CDATA sections wrap content with special characters.

Common Use Cases

Enterprise Integration

Exchange data with enterprise systems using XML.

SOAP Web Services

Generate XML for SOAP API requests/responses.

Configuration Export

Export database configuration as XML.

Document Generation

Create XML for document processing (XSLT transformation).

Code Examples

SQL to XML Conversion

javascript

function escapeXML(str) {
  if (str === null || str === undefined) return '';
  return String(str)
    .replace(/&/g, '&amp;')
    .replace(/</g, '&lt;')
    .replace(/>/g, '&gt;')
    .replace(/"/g, '&quot;')
    .replace(/'/g, '&apos;');
}

function sqlToXML(tableName, columns, rows) {
  let xml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n';
  xml += `<${tableName}s>\n`;

  rows.forEach(row => {
    xml += `  <${tableName}>\n`;
    columns.forEach((col, i) => {
      const value = row[i];
      if (value === null) {
        xml += `    <${col.name} xsi:nil="true"/>\n`;
      } else {
        xml += `    <${col.name}>${escapeXML(value)}</${col.name}>\n`;
      }
    });
    xml += `  </${tableName}>\n`;
  });

  xml += `</${tableName}s>`;
  return xml;
}

Wrap rows in elements, escape special characters, handle NULL with xsi:nil.

Tips & Best Practices

Entity encode special characters
Use valid XML element names
Add XML declaration with encoding
Consider namespaces for schema
Use CDATA for complex content

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Invalid element names from column names
Not escaping special characters
Missing XML declaration
Inconsistent NULL handling

When to Use This Tool

Use SQL to XML for enterprise integration, SOAP services, document generation with XSLT, and systems requiring XML schema validation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Options: omit element, empty element (<col/>), xsi:nil attribute, or explicit <null/> value. xsi:nil="true" is XML Schema standard for NULL.