Xml Xslt Xhtml Whitespace Line Breaks

Is it `Bad Practice` to Rely on Linebreaks in XML Documents?

When generating XML documents, especially with complex data like addresses, developers often face a dilemma: should they use linebreaks to structure their text or should they opt for a more standardized approach? This blog post dives into why relying on linebreaks in XML can be problematic and proposes a better way to handle such data.

Understanding the Issue with Linebreaks

Fragile Data Differentiation

In XML, linebreaks are often perceived as a convenient way to separate different components of a text block. However, depending on linebreaks for differentiation can lead to issues:

Fragility: XML processors typically preserve whitespace. However, not all processors treat whitespace the same way, which can lead to unpredictable results when XML is outputted into other formats.
Data Handling Variability: Applications that transform XML into readable formats, like HTML or plain text, may collapse multiple linebreaks into a single space. This inconsistency can result in loss of important formatting information.

Risk of Data Loss in Editors

If you open your XML document in an XML editor and decide to pretty-print it, the linebreaks you’ve relied on can easily disappear. This not only changes the appearance of the document but can also lead to data misinterpretation.

Recommended Approach: Using Structured Tags

Instead of relying on fragile linebreaks, it’s a best practice to structure your XML with appropriate tags that represent the data better. For instance, instead of this:

<Address>15 Sample St
Example Bay
Some Country</Address>

You could use a more standardized approach like this:

<Address>
    <Line>15 Sample St</Line>
    <Line>Example Bay</Line>
    <Line>Some Country</Line>
</Address>

Benefits of Using Structured Tags

Consistency: Each line is clearly defined and can be easily processed by any XML-compliant application without ambiguity.
Ease of Transformations: Using tags like <Line> eliminates the need for complex XSLT transformations merely to convert linebreaks to <br/> tags, simplifying your code and reducing the chance for errors.

Handling Whitespace with `xml:space` Attribute

If you choose to keep linebreaks for any reason, make sure to include an xml:space="preserve" attribute in your XML elements. This can help preserve the formatting as intended:

<Address xml:space="preserve">15 Sample St
Example Bay
Some Country</Address>

Conclusion

In conclusion, while it might seem convenient to utilize linebreaks within XML documents, it’s generally considered a bad practice due to its inherent fragility and variability in data handling. By adopting a structured approach with tags, you can ensure that your XML remains robust, consistent, and easy to work with across various applications. Make the shift today for a more efficient XML schema!

Is it Bad Practice to Rely on Linebreaks in XML Documents?