VB.NET Reading and Writing XML

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a widely used format for storing and exchanging data. In VB.NET, reading and writing XML is a common task, and the .NET Framework provides classes to simplify these operations. This guide will cover the syntax, examples, output, explanations, use cases, important points, and a summary of reading and writing XML in VB.NET.

Syntax

Reading XML

Dim doc As XDocument = XDocument.Load("path/to/file.xml")

Writing XML

Dim doc As XDocument = New XDocument(
    New XElement("Root",
        New XElement("Element1", "Value1"),
        New XElement("Element2", "Value2")
    )
)
doc.Save("path/to/file.xml")

Example

Reading XML

Imports System.Xml.Linq

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        Dim doc As XDocument = XDocument.Load("books.xml")
        
        For Each book In doc.Descendants("book")
            Dim title = book.Element("title").Value
            Dim author = book.Element("author").Value
            Console.WriteLine($"Title: {title}, Author: {author}")
        Next
    End Sub
End Module

Writing XML

Imports System.Xml.Linq

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        Dim doc As XDocument = New XDocument(
            New XElement("books",
                New XElement("book",
                    New XElement("title", "The Hobbit"),
                    New XElement("author", "J.R.R. Tolkien")
                ),
                New XElement("book",
                    New XElement("title", "To Kill a Mockingbird"),
                    New XElement("author", "Harper Lee")
                )
            )
        )
        
        doc.Save("books.xml")
    End Sub
End Module

Output

Reading XML

The output will display the titles and authors of the books in the XML file.

Title: The Hobbit, Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird, Author: Harper Lee

No explicit output for the writing example, but it will create an XML file named "books.xml" with the specified structure and data.

Explanation

• XDocument.Load is used to read XML from a file.
• XDocument and XElement classes are used to create and structure XML for writing.

Use

Reading and writing XML in VB.NET is useful for:

• Configuring and storing application settings.
• Exchanging data between different systems or components.
• Storing structured information in a human-readable format.

Important Points

• XDocument represents an XML document, and XElement represents an XML element.
• LINQ to XML provides a convenient way to query and manipulate XML data.

Summary

VB.NET provides straightforward ways to read and write XML using the XDocument and XElement classes. Whether you're extracting information from an XML file or creating a new one, these classes simplify the process. Understanding how to use these classes is essential for working with XML data in VB.NET applications.