How to Convert an XML Document to a String in Java

Learn how to convert an XML Document to a String in Java using various methods like StringWriter and Transformer.
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How to Convert an XML Document to a String in Java

Working with XML in Java often necessitates converting an XML document into a string format. This conversion is essential for logging, serialization, or simply viewing the XML content as text. This article explores a straightforward method to achieve this conversion, leveraging Java's API.

Using StringWriter and Transformer

One of the most common ways to convert an XML Document to a String in Java is by using StringWriter in combination with the Transformer class. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

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Create an XML Document: For demonstration purposes, let's create a sample XML Document.

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Convert XML Document to String: Now that we have our XML Document, let's convert it to a String.

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Executing this code will output the XML document as a string. The convertDocumentToString method uses a Transformer to transform the XML Document into a string representation via StringWriter.

Conclusion

Converting an XML Document to a String in Java is straightforward using StringWriter and Transformer. This approach is highly effective for various use cases, such as logging or serialization. Understanding these tools and techniques can greatly enhance your ability to manipulate and work with XML data in Java.