How to use XMLPullParser to parse XML in Android?

This example demonstrates how do I XMLPullParser in android.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent"
   android:layout_height="fill_parent"
   android:orientation="vertical" >
   <ListView
      android:id="@+id/listView"
      android:layout_width="fill_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:dividerHeight="1dp" />
</LinearLayout>

Step 3 – Right click in the res/layout and create a layout resource file(row.xml) and add the following code −

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent"
   android:layout_height="wrap_content"
   android:orientation="horizontal"
   android:padding="5dip" >
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvName"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:textStyle="bold"
      android:textSize="17dp" />
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_below="@id/tvName"
      android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
      android:textColor="#343434"
      android:textSize="14dp" />
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvLocation"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_alignBaseline="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_alignBottom="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
      android:textColor="#343434"
      android:textSize="14dp" />
</RelativeLayout>

Step 4 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ListAdapter;
import android.widget.ListView;
import android.widget.SimpleAdapter;
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParser;
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserException;
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserFactory;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.HashMap;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      try {
         ArrayList<HashMap<String, String>> userList = new ArrayList<>();
         HashMap<String,String> user = new HashMap<>();
         ListView lv = findViewById(R.id.listView);
         InputStream inputStream = getAssets().open("userdetails.xml");
         XmlPullParserFactory parserFactory = XmlPullParserFactory.newInstance();
         XmlPullParser parser = parserFactory.newPullParser();
         parser.setFeature(XmlPullParser.FEATURE_PROCESS_NAMESPACES,false);
         parser.setInput(inputStream,null);
         String tag = "" , text = "";
         int event = parser.getEventType();
         while (event!= XmlPullParser.END_DOCUMENT){
            tag = parser.getName();
            switch (event) {
               case XmlPullParser.START_TAG:
                  if(tag.equals("user"))
                     user = new HashMap<>();
               break;
               case XmlPullParser.TEXT:
                  text=parser.getText();
               break;
               case XmlPullParser.END_TAG:
               switch (tag) {
                  case "name": user.put("name",text);
                  break;
                  case "designation": user.put("designation",text);
                  break;
                  case "location": user.put("location",text);
                  break;
                  case "user":
                  if(user!=null)
                     userList.add(user);
                  break;
               }
               break;
            }
            event = parser.next();
         }
         ListAdapter adapter = new SimpleAdapter(MainActivity.this, userList, R.layout.row,
         new String[]{"name","designation","location"}, new int[]{R.id.tvName,
         R.id.tvDesignation, R.id.tvLocation});
         lv.setAdapter(adapter);
      }
      catch (IOException e) {
         e.printStackTrace();
      } catch (XmlPullParserException e) {
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Step 5 – Create an asset folder, inside the asset folder create an android resource file(userdetails.xml) and add the following

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
   <users>
      <user>
         <name>Sehwag</name>
         <designation>Vice Captain</designation>
         <loation>Delhi</loation>
      </user>
      <user>
         <name>Ashwin</name>
         <designation>Off Spin Bowler</designation>
         <loation>Chennai</loation>
      </user>
      <user>
         <name>Dhoni</name>
         <designation>Captain</designation>
         <loation>Ranchi</loation>
      </user>
   </users>
</resources>

Step 6 - Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   package="app.com.sample">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run  icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen –

Click here to download the project code.