xml-xmln

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr xml pyx

xml [options] [input file(s)]

add
    Add a node (element/attribute) to the XML document.

cat
    Output the XML document.

ed
    Edit the XML document (modify, delete, insert nodes).

format
    Reformat XML document (pretty-print, indent).

sel
    Select elements from the XML document using XPath.

val
    Validate the XML document against a DTD or XSD schema.

version
    Display XMLStarlet version.

tr
    Transform an XML document using XSLT.

--help
    Display help information.

--version
    Display the version of xmlstarlet.

--encoding encoding
    Specify the character encoding of the input document.

--output file
    Specify the output file. Defaults to stdout.

--indent string
    Specify the indentation string. Defaults to two spaces.

The `xml` command is part of the XMLStarlet suite, a set of command-line utilities designed for manipulating XML documents. It provides a versatile tool for querying, transforming, validating, and editing XML files from the terminal. Instead of using a graphical user interface, `xml` enables users, particularly developers and system administrators, to script complex XML operations. It supports various XML standards and features, including XPath for querying, XSLT for transformations, and DTD/XSD validation. With `xml`, users can automate tasks like extracting data from XML configurations, modifying XML structures, and validating XML data against specified schemas.

This command is particularly useful in environments where direct manipulation of XML configuration files, data processing, or integration with other scripting tools is required. XMLStarlet is widely used in software development, system administration, and data processing pipelines.

XMLStarlet can be resource-intensive when processing very large XML documents. XPath knowledge is essential for effectively using the `sel` command. Error messages can sometimes be cryptic, requiring careful debugging of XPath expressions and XSLT stylesheets. The command doesn't support all the nuances of the XML specifications.

When using the `sel` command, ensure your XPath expressions are correctly formed and account for namespaces in the XML document. Incorrect XPath expressions are a common source of errors.

The `tr` command requires a valid XSLT stylesheet. Complex transformations may require advanced XSLT knowledge. Be aware of XSLT processor limitations.

XMLStarlet was developed to provide a command-line alternative to GUI-based XML editors and processors. Its development was driven by the need to automate XML manipulation tasks in scripting environments. It has evolved over time to support more XML standards and features, becoming a popular tool in DevOps, data processing, and software development workflows.

xsltproc(1), xmllint(1)