- var_dump: documentation ( source)
- simplexml_load_string: documentation ( source)
- iterator_to_array: documentation ( source)
<?php
$xmlStr = <<<XML
<?xml version='1.0' standalone='yes'?>
<movies>
<movie>
<title>PHP: Behind the Parser</title>
<characters>
<character>
<name>Ms. Coder</name>
<actor>Onlivia Actora</actor>
</character>
<character>
<name>Mr. Coder</name>
<actor>El ActÓr</actor>
</character>
</characters>
<plot>
So, this language. It's like, a programming language. Or is it a
scripting language? All is revealed in this thrilling horror spoof
of a documentary.
</plot>
<great-lines>
<line>PHP solves all my web problems</line>
</great-lines>
<rating type="thumbs">7</rating>
<rating type="stars">5</rating>
</movie>
<movie>
<title>Title</title>
<characters>
<character>
<name>Ms. Smith</name>
<actor>Jane Doe</actor>
</character>
<character>
<name>Mr. Smith</name>
<actor>John Doe</actor>
</character>
</characters>
<plot>
There is no plot.
</plot>
<great-lines>
<line>Yes?</line>
<line>No!</line>
</great-lines>
<rating type="thumbs">3</rating>
<rating type="stars">2</rating>
</movie>
</movies>
XML;
$xml = simplexml_load_string($xmlStr);
echo '$xml:', "\n";
var_dump($xml);
echo "\n";
echo '$xml->movies:', "\n";
var_dump($xml->movies);
echo "\n";
echo '$xml->movies->movie:', "\n";
var_dump($xml->movies->movie);
echo "\n";
echo '$xml->movies->movie[0]:', "\n";
var_dump($xml->movies->movie[0]);
echo "\n";
echo 'iterator_to_array($xml->movies->movie):', "\n";
var_dump(iterator_to_array($xml->movies->movie));
echo "\n";
echo 'iterator_to_array($xml->movies):', "\n";
var_dump(iterator_to_array($xml->movies));
echo "\n";