How to Convert a SimpleXML Object to an Array in PHP?

Converting a SimpleXML Object to an Array

Question

How can I efficiently and robustly convert a SimpleXML Object to an array? The existing approach using the json_decode() and json_encode() functions seems hacky.

Answer

Consider using the xml2array function provided in the PHP manual:

<code class="php">function xml2array($xmlObject, $out = array())
{
    foreach ((array)$xmlObject as $index => $node)
        $out[$index] = (is_object($node)) ? xml2array($node) : $node;

    return $out;
}</code>

This function recursively converts the SimpleXML Object into an array, preserving its structure and values.

Note

However, it's important to note that converting XML to an array involves some data loss, as attributes are not preserved during the conversion. Therefore, if round-trip functionality (conversion back to XML) is required, consider using an alternative approach that retains attributes.

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