- print_r: documentation ( source)
<?php
$xml = "<root>
<parent>
<child name='Child1' />
<child name='Child2' />
<subparent>
<child name='Child3' />
</subparent>
</parent>
<child name='Child4' />
</root>";
$xml = new DOMDocument();
$xml->load('$xml');
$htp = $xml->getElementsByTagName('root')[0];
print_r($htp);