Read XML file using C# LINQ

Sourav.Kayal
Posted by in C# category on for Beginner level | Points: 250 | Views : 80023 red flag

How to read XML document using C# LINQ

Read XML document using LINQ C#

In this article we will see how to read XML document using C#. At first we have to create sample XML document with some sample data. In below, we have created one sample XML document with two employee elements.

<Start>
                <employees>
 
                                <employee>
                                                <id>1</id>
                                                <name>sourav kayal</name>
                                </employee>
                               
                                <employee>
                                                <id>2</id>
                                                <name>dotnetFunda.com</name>
                                </employee>
 
                </employees>
</Start> 

Read all value from XML Document         

At first we will see how to read value of all elements. In example, you can find simple LINQ query to fetch all elements from XML document. Here we have used ElementAt() function to get values from certain XML  Element.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
namespace BridgeDesign
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
 
            XDocument document = XDocument.Load("D:\\test.xml");
            var selectedEmp = from r in document.Descendants("employee")
                               select r;
 
            XElement a = selectedEmp.ElementAt(0);
            Console.WriteLine("Employee ID:-" +   a.Element("id").Value + "  Employee Name:- "+ a.Element("name").Value);
 
            XElement b = selectedEmp.ElementAt(1);             Console.WriteLine("Employee ID:-" + b.Element("id").Value + "  Employee Name:- " + b.Element("name").Value);
 
 
 
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}
 
Our sample XML document has only two employs. Here is sample output.



Read node value with condition

In this example we will see how to get particular node depending on certain condition. For example we would like to see information only that employee whose ID = 1. We can modify LINQ query of previous example.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
namespace BridgeDesign
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
 
            XDocument document = XDocument.Load("D:\\test.xml");
            var selectedEmp = from r in document.Descendants("employee").Where (r => (string)r.Element("id").Value == "1")
                               select r;
 
            XElement a = selectedEmp.ElementAt(0);
            Console.WriteLine("Employee ID:-" +   a.Element("id").Value + "  Employee Name:- "+ a.Element("name").Value);
           
 
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}
 
Output is here.


Search Element by Attribute Value

Now we will search XML element by its attribute value. For that, at first we will modify our old XML document like below.

<Start>
                <employees>
 
                                <employee type="HR">
                                                <id>1</id>
                                                <name>sourav kayal</name>
                                </employee>
                               
                                <employee type="Developer">
                                                <id>2</id>
                                                <name>dotnetFunda.com</name>
                                </employee>
 
                </employees>
</Start>

Here is C# sample program to search element by attribute value.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
namespace BridgeDesign
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
 
            XDocument document = XDocument.Load("D:\\test.xml");
            var selectedBook = from r in document.Descendants("employee").Where(r => (string)    r.Attribute("type").Value=="HR")
                               select r;
            XElement a = selectedBook.ElementAt(0);
            Console.WriteLine("Employee ID:-" +   a.Element("id").Value + "  Employee Name:- "+ a.Element("name").Value);
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}
 
Here is sample output.


Conclusion:

In this article we looked into how to read XML document using C# and LINQ query. Hope you have understood the basic concept of reading XML document.

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About the Author

Sourav.Kayal
Full Name: Sourav Kayal
Member Level: Silver
Member Status: Member,MVP
Member Since: 6/20/2013 2:09:01 AM
Country: India
Read my blog here http://ctrlcvprogrammer.blogspot.in/
http://www.dotnetfunda.com
I am .NET developer working for HelixDNA Technologies,Bangalore in healthcare domain. Like to learn new technology and programming language. Currently working in ASP.NET ,C# and other microsoft technologies.

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