How to serialize Python dictionary to XML?

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language used to transfer and store data. Unlike HTML with predefined tags, XML allows custom tags to organize data between opening and closing tags.

In Python, dictionaries store data as key-value pairs. We can serialize a dictionary to XML format using two popular libraries: dicttoxml and dict2xml.

Using dicttoxml

The dicttoxml library converts Python dictionaries to XML format with type information. Install it using:

pip install dicttoxml

Syntax

from dicttoxml import dicttoxml
xml_data = dicttoxml(dictionary_name)

Basic Example

Here's how to serialize a simple dictionary to XML ?

from dicttoxml import dicttoxml

data = {'a': 10, 'b': 20, 'c': 30}
print("Original dictionary:", data)

xml = dicttoxml(data)
print("Serialized XML:", xml.decode('utf-8'))

Original dictionary: {'a': 10, 'b': 20, 'c': 30}
Serialized XML: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><root><a type="int">10</a><b type="int">20</b><c type="int">30</c></root>

Complex Data Types

The dicttoxml library handles lists and nested structures ?

from dicttoxml import dicttoxml

data = {"languages": ["Python", "Java"], "versions": [3.9, 11]}
print("Dictionary with lists:", data)

xml = dicttoxml(data)
print("Serialized XML:", xml.decode('utf-8'))

Dictionary with lists: {'languages': ['Python', 'Java'], 'versions': [3.9, 11]}
Serialized XML: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><root><languages type="list"><item type="str">Python</item><item type="str">Java</item></languages><versions type="list"><item type="float">3.9</item><item type="int">11</item></versions></root>

Using dict2xml

The dict2xml library provides cleaner XML output without type attributes. Install it using:

pip install dict2xml

Syntax

from dict2xml import dict2xml
xml_data = dict2xml(dictionary_name)

Basic Example

Here's how dict2xml handles the same dictionary ?

from dict2xml import dict2xml

data = {"python": "language", "ball": "item"}
print("Original dictionary:", data)

xml = dict2xml(data)
print("Serialized XML:")
print(xml)

Original dictionary: {'python': 'language', 'ball': 'item'}
Serialized XML:
<ball>item</ball>
<python>language</python>

Handling Lists

dict2xml creates multiple elements for list values ?

from dict2xml import dict2xml

data = {"name": ["Python", "Java"], "version": [3.9, 11]}
print("Dictionary with lists:", data)

xml = dict2xml(data)
print("Serialized XML:")
print(xml)

Dictionary with lists: {'name': ['Python', 'Java'], 'version': [3.9, 11]}
Serialized XML:
<name>Python</name>
<name>Java</name>
<version>3.9</version>
<version>11</version>

Comparison

Conclusion

Use dicttoxml when you need type information and structured XML with a root element. Use dict2xml for cleaner, simpler XML output without type attributes.