Convert XML to JSON using JavaScript

Convert XML to JSON effortlessly using JavaScript, enabling seamless integration and manipulation of XML data within your applications. JavaScript libraries like xml-js and xmldom Library simplify the conversion process, ensuring compatibility and efficiency.

Below are the approaches to convert XML to JSON in JavaScript:

Using xml-js Library

In this approach, we are using the xml-js library to handle XML to JSON conversion in JavaScript. This library provides a convenient 'xml2json' function, which directly transforms XML data into a JSON object. It offers options for formatting, including compactness and spacing.

Run the below command to install xml-js Library:

npm install xml-js

Example: The below example uses xml-js Library to convert XML to JSON in JavaScript.

const convert = require('xml-js');
const xmlData = `
<book>
    <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
    <author>F. Scott Fitzgerald</author>
    <genre>Fiction</genre>
</book>
`;

const jsonResult = convert.xml2json(xmlData, {
    compact: true,
    spaces: 2
});
console.log(jsonResult);

Output:

{
  "book": {
    "title": {
      "_text": "The Great Gatsby"
    },
    "author": {
      "_text": "F. Scott Fitzgerald"
    },
    "genre": {
      "_text": "Fiction"
    }
  }
}

Using DOM Parser

In this approach, we are using the 'xmldom' library to handle XML parsing in JavaScript. This method involves parsing the XML data into a DOM structure and then traversing the nodes to extract element names and their corresponding text content. This method results in a JSON object representing the structure and content of the original XML data.

Run the below command to install xmldom Library:

npm install xmldom

Example: The below example uses DOM Parser to convert XML to JSON in JavaScript.

const { DOMParser } = require('xmldom');

const xmlString = `
<book>
    <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
    <author>F. Scott Fitzgerald</author>
    <genre>Fiction</genre>
</book>
`;

const parser = new DOMParser();
const xmlDoc = 
    parser.parseFromString(xmlString, 'text/xml');
const data = {};

const nodes = xmlDoc.documentElement.childNodes;
for (let i = 0; i < nodes.length; i++) {
    const node = nodes[i];
    if (node.nodeType === 1) {
        data[node.nodeName] = node.textContent.trim();
    }
}
console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));

Output:

{
  "title": "The Great Gatsby",
  "author": "F. Scott Fitzgerald",
  "genre": "Fiction"
}