# making sense of all the xml extensions in php 5

- Thread: https://externals.io/message/12346
- Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/12346
- Started by Naik on 2004-08-25T21:31:11+00:00
- Messages: 2
- Reply by email to internals@lists.php.net
- More for agents: search with https://externals.io/search.md?q={query} · JSON API at https://externals.io/api · documentation at https://externals.io/llms.txt

---

## #12346 — Naik — 2004-08-25T21:31:11+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/12346#12346

I am trying to make sense of the following 4 xml extensions distributed with 
php 5

  ext/libxml    <- ?? 
  ext/simplexml {experimental)
  ext/xml       
  ext/dom       {experimental)
 
Dom extension's name is self describing. but about the others ?

As I understand, simplexml is a simpler-to-use alternative to xml 
extension. what about that libxml ? whats it doing there..is it an 
extension truly ? If its not a extension its existence in the "ext"
directory is confusing. I couldnt find the purpose of libxml mentioned
anywhere.

Could someone please explain ?

-- Roshan

---

## #12347 — Andi Gutmans — 2004-08-25T22:27:35+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/12346#12347 · In reply to: #12346

At 02:31 PM 8/25/2004 -0700, Naik, Roshan wrote:
>I am trying to make sense of the following 4 xml extensions distributed with
>php 5
>
>   ext/libxml    <- ??

Infrastructure for streams and XML extensions.

>   ext/simplexml {experimental)

SimpleXML (search the web)

>   ext/xml

SAX

>   ext/dom       {experimental)

DOM

Andi