XML - Namespaces

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A Namespace is a set of unique names. Namespace is a mechanisms by which element and attribute name can be assigned to a group. The Namespace is identified by URI(Uniform Resource Identifiers).

Namespace Declaration

A Namespace is declared using reserved attributes. Such an attribute name must either be xmlns or begin with xmlns: shown as below −

<element xmlns:name = "URL">

Syntax

  • The Namespace starts with the keyword xmlns.

  • The word name is the Namespace prefix.

  • The URL is the Namespace identifier.

Example

Namespace affects only a limited area in the document. An element containing the declaration and all of its descendants are in the scope of the Namespace. Following is a simple example of XML Namespace −

<?xml version = "1.0" encoding = "UTF-8"?>
<cont:contact xmlns:cont = "www.howcodex.com/profile">
   <cont:name>Tanmay Patil</cont:name>
   <cont:company>Howcodex</cont:company>
   <cont:phone>(011) 123-4567</cont:phone>
</cont:contact>

Here, the Namespace prefix is cont, and the Namespace identifier (URI) as www.howcodex.com/profile. This means, the element names and attribute names with the cont prefix (including the contact element), all belong to the www.howcodex.com/profile namespace.

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