XML — Namespaces

Why Namespaces?

When combining XML documents, element names may conflict:

<!-- Conflicting names -->
<table>
    <tr> <!-- Table row or table? -->
        <td>Data</td>
    </tr>
</table>

Namespace Syntax

<root xmlns:prefix="URI">
    <prefix:child>Content</prefix:child>
</root>

Default Namespace

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
    <body>
        <p>Content</p>
    </body>
</html>

Practical Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog xmlns:book="http://example.com/books"
         xmlns:person="http://example.com/people">
    <book:title>My Book</book:title>
    <person:name>John Doe</person:name>
</catalog>

Common Namespaces

Prefix	URI
xmlns	http://www.w3.org/2000/xmlns/
xml	http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace
xs	http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
xsl	http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform

Mini Practice

Create a namespace
Use a default namespace
Combine two namespaces
Reference namespaced elements

Up Next

Continue with Encoding — character encoding in XML.

Frequently Asked Questions about Namespaces

What is Namespaces in XML?

Namespaces is a fundamental concept in XML. This lesson explains it step by step with clear examples, making it easy for beginners to understand.

How do I learn Namespaces?

Start by reading the explanation above, then try the code examples. Practice by modifying the examples and experimenting with different values. Hands-on practice is the best way to learn Namespaces.

Why is Namespaces important in XML?

Namespaces is essential for XML development. Understanding this concept will help you write better code and solve real-world problems more effectively.