XML Schema

• An XML Schema describes the structure of an XML

document.
• The XML Schema language is also referred to as XML
Schema Definition (XSD).
• XML Schema is an XML-based (and more powerful)
alternative to DTD.
The purpose of an XML Schema is to define the legal building
blocks of an XML document:
• the elements and attributes that can appear in a document
• the number of (and order of) child elements
• data types for elements and attributes
• default and fixed values for elements and attributes
XML Schemas Support Data Types
One of the greatest strength of XML Schemas is the support for
data types.
• It is easier to describe allowable document content
• It is easier to validate the correctness of data
• It is easier to define data facets (restrictions on data)
• It is easier to define data patterns (data formats)
• It is easier to convert data between different data types
XML Schemas are extensible, because they are written in XML.
With an extensible Schema definition you can:
• Reuse your Schema in other Schemas
• Create your own data types derived from the standard types
• Reference multiple schemas in the same document
Two major schema models exist: W3C XML
Schema and Microsoft XML Schema.
• An XML document that conforms to a schema
document is schema valid; a document that
does not conform is invalid.
• XML schemas are an alternative for validating
XML documents. DTDs and schemas need
validating parsers. Schemas are an emerging
technology that is expected to eventually
replace DTDs as the primary means of
describing XML document structure.
• Microsoft XML Schema documents commonly
use the .xml extension and W3C XML Schema
documents commonly use the.xsd extension.
• W3C XML Schema use the URI
http://www.w3.org/2000/10/XMLSchema and
namespace prefix xsd. Root element schema
contains the document definitions.
XSD Example
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xs:schema
xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xs:element name="note">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="to" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="from" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="heading" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="body" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
 XML Schemas Secure Data
Communication
• When sending data from a sender to a receiver, it is
essential that both parts have the same "expectations"
about the content.
• With XML Schemas, the sender can describe the data in a
way that the receiver will understand.
• A date like: "03-11-2004" will, in some countries, be
interpreted as 3.November and in other countries as
11.March.
• However, an XML element with a data type like this:
• <date type="date">2004-03-11</date>
• ensures a mutual understanding of the content, because
the XML data type "date" requires the format "YYYY-MM-
DD".
Well-Formed is Not Enough
A well-formed XML document is a document that conforms
to the XML syntax rules, like:
• it must begin with the XML declaration
• it must have one unique root element
• start-tags must have matching end-tags
• elements are case sensitive
• all elements must be closed
• all elements must be properly nested
• all attribute values must be quoted
• entities must be used for special characters
Even if documents are well-formed they can still contain
errors, and those errors can have serious consequences.
Think of the following situation: you order 5 gross of laser
printers, instead of 5 laser printers. With XML Schemas, most
of these errors can be caught by your validating software.
 XSD Simple Elements
• simple element is an XML element that can
contain only text. It cannot contain any other
elements or attributes.
• the "only text" restriction is quite misleading.
The text can be of many different types. It can
be one of the types included in the XML
Schema definition (boolean, string, date, etc.),
or it can be a custom type that you can define
yourself.
 Defining a Simple Element
The syntax for defining a simple element is:
<xs:element name="xxx" type="yyy"/>
where xxx is the name of the element and yyy is the data
type of the element.
XML Schema has a lot of built-in data types. The most
common types are:
• xs:string
• xs:decimal
• xs:integer
• xs:boolean
• xs:date
• xs:time
 The corresponding simple element
definitions:

Example
• Here are some XML elements:
• <lastname>Refsnes</lastname>
<age>36</age>
<dateborn>1970-03-27</dateborn>
Xsd content:
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="age" type="xs:integer"/>
<xs:element name="dateborn" type="xs:date"/>
Default and Fixed Values for Simple Elements
Simple elements may have a default value OR a fixed
value specified.
A default value is automatically assigned to the
element when no other value is specified.
In the following example the default value is "red":
<xs:element name="color" type="xs:string"
default="red"/>
A fixed value is also automatically assigned to the
element, and you cannot specify another value.
In the following example the fixed value is "red":
• <xs:element name="color" type="xs:string"
fixed="red"/>
 XSD Attributes
• All attributes are declared as simple types
• <xs:attribute name="xxx" type="yyy"/>
• XML Schema has a lot of built-in data types. The
most common types are:
• xs:string
• xs:decimal
• xs:integer
• xs:boolean
• xs:date
• xs:time
Example
• Here is an XML element with an attribute:
• <lastname lang="EN">Smith</lastname>
• And here is the corresponding attribute
definition:
• <xs:attribute name="lang" type="xs:string"/>
Default and Fixed Values for Attributes
• Attributes may have a default value OR a fixed
value specified.
• A default value is automatically assigned to the
attribute when no other value is specified.
• In the following example the default value is "EN":
• <xs:attribute name="lang" type="xs:string"
default="EN"/>
• A fixed value is also automatically assigned to the
attribute, and you cannot specify another value.
• Ex: <xs:attribute name="lang" type="xs:string"
fixed="EN"/>
Optional and Required Attributes
• Attributes are optional by default. To specify
that the attribute is required, use the "use"
attribute:
• <xs:attribute name="lang" type="xs:string"
use="required"/>
 XSD Restrictions/Facets
• Restrictions are used to define acceptable values for XML
elements or attributes. Restrictions on XML elements are
called facets.
• Restrictions on Values
• The following example defines an element called "age" with
a restriction. The value of age cannot be lower than 0 or
greater than 120:
<xs:element name="age">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:integer">
<xs:minInclusive value="0"/>
<xs:maxInclusive value="12"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
 Restrictions on a Set of Values
• To limit the content of an XML element to a set of acceptable
values, we would use the enumeration constraint.
• The example below defines an element called "car" with a
restriction. The only acceptable values are: Audi, Golf, BMW:
<xs:element name="car">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:enumeration value="Audi"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Golf"/>
<xs:enumeration value="BMW"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
The example above could also have been written like
this:
<xs:element name="car" type="carType"/>

<xs:simpleType name="carType">
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:enumeration value="Audi"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Golf"/>
<xs:enumeration value="BMW"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
Note: In this case the type "carType" can be used by
other elements because it is not a part of the "car"
element.
Restrictions on a Series of Values
• To limit the content of an XML element to define a
series of numbers or letters that can be used, we
would use the pattern constraint.
• The example below defines an element called
"letter" with a restriction. The only acceptable
value is ONE of the LOWERCASE letters from a to z:
• <xs:element name="letter">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[a-z]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
The next example defines an element called
"initials" with a restriction. The only acceptable
value is THREE of the UPPERCASE letters from a to
z:
• <xs:element name="initials">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[A-Z][A-Z][A-Z]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• The next example also defines an element
called "initials" with a restriction. The only
acceptable value is THREE of the LOWERCASE
OR UPPERCASE letters from a to z:
• <xs:element name="initials">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z][a-zA-
Z]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
The next example defines an element called
"choice" with a restriction. The only acceptable
value is ONE of the following letters: x, y, OR z:
• <xs:element name="choice">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[xyz]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
The next example defines an element called
"prodid" with a restriction. The only acceptable
value is FIVE digits in a sequence, and each digit
must be in a range from 0 to 9:
• <xs:element name="prodid">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:integer">
<xs:pattern value="[0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• Other Restrictions on a Series of Values
• The example below defines an element called
"letter" with a restriction. The acceptable value
is zero or more occurrences of lowercase letters
from a to z:
• <xs:element name="letter">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="([a-z])*"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• The next example also defines an element called
"letter" with a restriction. The acceptable value is
one or more pairs of letters, each pair consisting of
a lower case letter followed by an upper case
letter. For example, "sToP" will be validated by this
pattern, but not "Stop" or "STOP" or "stop":
• <xs:element name="letter">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="([a-z][A-Z])+"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• The next example defines an element called
"gender" with a restriction. The only acceptable
value is male OR female:
• <xs:element name="gender">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="male|female"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• The next example defines an element called
"password" with a restriction. There must be
exactly eight characters in a row and those
characters must be lowercase or uppercase
letters from a to z, or a number from 0 to 9:
• <xs:element name="password">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[a-zA-Z0-9]{8}"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
Restrictions on Whitespace Characters
• To specify how whitespace characters should be
handled, we would use the whiteSpace constraint.
• This example defines an element called "address"
with a restriction. The whiteSpace constraint is set
to "preserve", which means that the XML
processor WILL NOT remove any white space
characters:
• <xs:element name="address">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:whiteSpace value="preserve"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
This example also defines an element called
"address" with a restriction. The whiteSpace
constraint is set to "replace", which means that
the XML processor WILL REPLACE all white space
characters (line feeds, tabs, spaces, and carriage
returns) with spaces:
• <xs:element name="address">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:whiteSpace value="replace"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
This example also defines an element called
"address" with a restriction. The whiteSpace
constraint is set to "collapse", which means that the
XML processor WILL REMOVE all white space
characters (line feeds, tabs, spaces, carriage returns
are replaced with spaces, leading and trailing spaces
are removed, and multiple spaces are reduced to a
single space):
• <xs:element name="address">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:whiteSpace value="collapse"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
preserve
No normalization is done, the value is the
·normalized value·
replace
All occurrences of #x9 (tab), #xA (line feed)
and #xD (carriage return) are replaced with
#x20 (space).
collapse
Subsequent to the replacements specified
above under replace, contiguous sequences
of #x20s are collapsed to a single #x20, and
initial and/or final #x20s are deleted.
• Restrictions on Length
• To limit the length of a value in an element, we
would use the length, maxLength, and minLength
constraints.
• This example defines an element called "password"
with a restriction. The value must be exactly eight
characters:
• <xs:element name="password">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:length value="8"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
• This example defines another element called
"password" with a restriction. The value must
be minimum five characters and maximum
eight characters:
• <xs:element name="password">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:minLength value="5"/>
<xs:maxLength value="8"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>
</xs:element>
Attribute - Restriction
Restriction Description
• xs:enumeration Defines a list of values for an element
• xs:length Defines the exact number of characters or list elements that
are allowed. The value of this length must equal to or greater than zero.
• maxExclusive Defines the upper limit for numeric values
• maxInclusive defines the upper limit for numeric values
• maxLength Defines the maximum number of characters or list items that
is allowed. Must be equal to or greater than zero
• minExclusive Defines the lower limit for numeric values
• minInclusive defines the lower limit for numeric values
• minLength Defines the minimum number of characters or list items
allowed. Must be equal to or greater than zero
• Pattern Defines the exact sequence of characters that are acceptable
• whiteSpace Defines how white space (line feeds, tabs, spaces, and
carriage returns) is handled
• totalDigits Defines the exact number of digits allowed. Must be greater
than zero
 XML Schema file called "note.xsd"
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
targetNamespace="http://www.w3schools.com"
xmlns="http://www.w3schools.com"
elementFormDefault="qualified">
<xs:element name="note">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="to" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="from" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="heading" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="body" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
The note element is a complex type because it contains other elements. The other
elements (to, from, heading, body) are simple types because they do not contain
other elements.
 Restrictions for Datatypes
Constraint Description

enumeration Defines a list of acceptable values

Specifies the maximum number of decimal places allowed. Must be equal to or greater
fractionDigits
than zero

Specifies the exact number of characters or list items allowed. Must be equal to or greater
length
than zero

maxExclusive Specifies the upper bounds for numeric values (the value must be less than this value)

Specifies the upper bounds for numeric values (the value must be less than or equal to
maxInclusive
this value)

Specifies the maximum number of characters or list items allowed. Must be equal to or
maxLength
greater than zero
 Specifies the lower bounds for numeric values (the value must be greater than this
minExclusive
value)

Specifies the lower bounds for numeric values (the value must be greater than or
minInclusive
equal to this value)

Specifies the minimum number of characters or list items allowed. Must be equal
minLength
to or greater than zero

pattern Defines the exact sequence of characters that are acceptable

totalDigits Specifies the exact number of digits allowed. Must be greater than zero

whiteSpace Specifies how white space (line feeds, tabs, spaces, and carriage returns) is handled
Figure 7.20 is a Microsoft XML Schema for the day planner introduced.
<?xml version = "1.0"?>
<!-- Fig. 7.20 : planner-schema.xml --> <!-- Microsoft XML Schema for day planner -->
<Schema xmlns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-data“ xmlns:dt = "urn:schemas-microsoft-
com:datatypes">
<ElementType name = "planner" content = "eltOnly“ model = "closed">
<element type = "year" minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "*"/>
</ElementType>
<ElementType name = "year" content = "eltOnly" model = "closed">
<AttributeType name = "value" dt:type = "int"/>
<attribute type = "value"/>
<element type = "date" minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "*"/>
</ElementType>
<ElementType name = "date" content = "eltOnly" model = "closed">
<AttributeType name = "month" dt:type = "int"/>
<attribute type = "month"/>
<AttributeType name = "day" dt:type = "int"/>
<attribute type = "day"/>
<element type = "note" minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "*"/>
</ElementType>
<ElementType name = "note" content = "textOnly" model = "closed“ dt:type = "string">
<AttributeType name = "time" dt:type = "int"/>
<attribute type = "time"/>
• Internet and World Wide Web Resources
msdn.microsoft.com/xml/xmlguide/schema-
overview.asp
• The Microsoft Schema Developer’s Guide
provides an extensive coverage of schemas
from a basic
• introduction to advanced definitions and uses.
msdn.microsoft.com/xml/reference/schema/sta
rt.asp
• The Microsoft XML Schema Reference contains
an introduction to schema.
 XML Schema Data Types

Table : XML Schema Data Types

User can independently define. This

type is used when a restriction is
Simple Type
placed on an embedded simple type
to create and use a new type.

User can independently define. This

Complex Type type is used when the type has a
child element or attribute.
 Simple Type Example

• <xs:element name="Department"
type="xs:string" />
• Here, the section described together with
"xs:string" is an embedded simple type
according to XML Schema. In this example, we
have established the definition that the data
type for the element called "Department" is a
text string.
 Complex Type Example
<xs:complexType name="EmployeeType">
<xs:sequence maxOccurs="unbounded">
<xs:element ref="Name" />
<xs:element ref="Department" />
</xs:sequence>
< /xs:complexType>
< xs:element name="Name" type="xs:string" />
< xs:element name="Department" type="xs:string" />
In this case the type name "EmployeeType" is designated
by the name attribute of the complexType element. A
model group (what designates the order of occurrence for
the child element) is designated in the child element.
New types are created by placing restrictions on or
extending simple or complex types. In this volume, we will
discuss restrictions and extensions for simple types.
 Complex Empty Elements
<xs:element name="product">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:attribute name="prodid“
type="xs:positiveInteger"/>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
Or
<xs:element name="product" type="prodtype"/>
<xs:complexType name="prodtype">
<xs:attribute name="prodid"
type="xs:positiveInteger"/>
</xs:complexType>
 XSD Elements Only
<xs:element name="person">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
Xml for this is:
<person>
<firstname>John</firstname>
<lastname>Smith</lastname>
</person>
 XSD Text-Only Elements
This type contains only simple content (text and
attributes), therefore we add a simpleContent
element around the content. When using simple
content, you must define an extension OR a
restriction within the simpleContent element
<xs:element name="somename">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:simpleContent>

....
....

</xs:simpleContent>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
 XSD Mixed Content
A mixed complex type element can contain attributes, elements, and text.
<xs:element name="letter">
<xs:complexType mixed="true">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="name" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="orderid" type="xs:positiveInteger"/>
<xs:element name="shipdate" type="xs:date"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
Eg xml:
<letter>
Dear Mr.<name>John Smith</name>.
Your order <orderid>1032</orderid>
will be shipped on <shipdate>2001-07-13</shipdate>.
</letter>
Examples:
 <?xml version = "1.0"?>
<!-- Figure 7.20 : xml-schema.xsd --> <!-- Example W3C XML
Schema -->
<xsd:schema xmlns:xsd =
"http://www.w3.org/2000/10/XMLSchema">
<xsd:element name = "myMessage" type = "myMessageType"/>

<xsd:complexType name = "myMessageType">

<xsd:element ref = "greeting" minOccurs = "0“ maxOccurs = "1"/>
<xsd:element ref = "message" minOccurs =’1" maxOccurs
="unbounded"/>
</xsd:complexType>
<xsd:element name = "message" type = "xsd:string"/>
<xsd:element name = "greeting" type = "greetingType"/>
<xsd:complexType name = "greetingType" content = "mixed">
</xsd:complexType>
</xsd:schema>
Fig. 7.18 W3C XML Schema document.
This shows an XML document that conforms to above schema.
<?xml version = "1.0"?>
<!-- Fig. 7.19 : intro3.xml -->
<!-- Introduction to W3C XML Schema -->
<myMessage
xmlns:xsd = "http://www.w3.org/2000/10/XMLSchema-
instance"
xsd:noNamespaceSchemaLocation = "xml-schema.xsd">

<greeting>Welcome to W3C XML Schema!</greeting>

<message>This is a message.</message>
<message>This is another message.</message>

</myMessage>
<!-- definition of attributes -->
<xs:attribute name="orderid" type="xs:string"/>
<!-- definition of complex elements -->
<xs:element name="shipto">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element ref="name"/>
<xs:element ref="address"/>
<xs:element ref="city"/>
<xs:element ref="country"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="item">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element ref="title"/>
<xs:element ref="note" minOccurs="0"/>
<xs:element ref="quantity"/>
<xs:element ref="price"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="shiporder">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element ref="orderperson"/>
<xs:element ref="shipto"/>
<xs:element ref="item" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</xs:sequence>
<xs:attribute ref="orderid" use="required"/>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shiporder orderid="889923"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="shiporder.xsd">
<orderperson>John Smith</orderperson>
<shipto>
<name>Ola Nordmann</name>
<address>Langgt 23</address>
<city>4000 Stavanger</city>
<country>Norway</country>
</shipto>
<item>
<title>Empire Burlesque</title>
<note>Special Edition</note>
<quantity>1</quantity>
<price>10.90</price>
</item>
<item>
<title>Hide your heart</title>
<quantity>1</quantity>
<price>9.90</price>
</item>
</shiporder>
Ques. Same as previous but less organized. <xs:element name="item"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> maxOccurs="unbounded">
<xs:schema <xs:complexType>
xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSch <xs:sequence>
ema"> <xs:element name="title"
type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="shiporder"> <xs:element name="note"
<xs:complexType> type="xs:string" minOccurs="0"/>
<xs:sequence> <xs:element name="quantity"
<xs:element name="orderperson" type="xs:positiveInteger"/>
type="xs:string"/> <xs:element name="price"
<xs:element name="shipto"> type="xs:decimal"/>
<xs:complexType> </xs:sequence>
<xs:sequence> </xs:complexType>
<xs:element name="name" </xs:element>
type="xs:string"/> </xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="address" <xs:attribute name="orderid"
type="xs:string"/> type="xs:string" use="required"/>
<xs:element name="city" </xs:complexType>
type="xs:string"/> </xs:element>
<xs:element name="country"
type="xs:string"/> </xs:schema>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>