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XML Attributes

The previous lesson covered the syntax rules related to XML elements. XML elements can also contain attributes. You use attributes within your elements to provide more information about the element. These are represented as name/value pairs.

Example:

<tag attribute="value">Data</tag>

It's important to remember the following syntax rules when using attributes.

Quotes

You must place quotation marks around the attribute's value.

Wrong:

<tutorials type=Web>
  <tutorial>
    <name>XML</name>
  </tutorial>
</tutorials>

Right:

<tutorials type="Web">
  <tutorial>
    <name>XML</name>
  </tutorial>
</tutorials>

Shorthand Is Prohibited

Attributes must contain a value. Some HTML coders like to use shorthand, where if you provide the attribute name without a value, it will equal true. This is not allowed in XML.

Wrong:

<tutorials published>
  <tutorial>
    <name>XML</name>
  </tutorial>
</tutorials>

Right:

<tutorials published="true">
  <tutorial>
    <name>XML</name>
  </tutorial>
</tutorials>

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