jQuery parseXML() Method

What Is parseXML()?

jQuery.parseXML(data) (alias $.parseXML) parses a well-formed XML string into an XMLDocument using the browser’s native parser (added in jQuery 1.5). Wrap the result with $() to query it like a jQuery collection.

$.parseXML(xmlString)  → XMLDocument

xmlDoc = $.parseXML("<root><title>Hi</title></root>")
$xml   = $(xmlDoc)
$text  = $xml.find("title").text()   // "Hi"

How to Use parseXML()

Parse once, wrap with jQuery, then find and read nodes.

1. Start with a well-formed XML string (RSS, Atom, custom feed, etc.).
2. Call $.parseXML(xml) to get an XMLDocument.
3. Wrap it: $(xmlDoc) — now use .find(), .text(), .attr().
4. For untrusted input, check for a parsererror node before trusting results.

Pseudocode

function parseXML(data):
    // browser native XML parse
    xmlDoc = parse data as XML
    return xmlDoc

// Typical jQuery flow:
xmlDoc = $.parseXML(rssString)
$xml   = $(xmlDoc)

if $xml.find("parsererror").length > 0:
    handle bad XML
else:
    title = $xml.find("title").first().text()

Cheat Sheet

Keep these facts handy while parsing XML with jQuery.

Live Preview

Pick a sample XML string, parse it with $.parseXML, and read a node.

sample = RSS title
find("channel > title") → "RSS Title"
parsererror → no

jQuery Examples

Short, copy-ready snippets. Open DevTools Console, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.

var xml =
  '<rss version="2.0"><channel><title>RSS Title</title></channel></rss>';
var xmlDoc = $.parseXML(xml);
var $title = $(xmlDoc).find("title");

console.log($title.text());  // "RSS Title"

RSS Title

var xml = '<rss><channel><title>RSS Title</title></channel></rss>';
var $title = $($.parseXML(xml)).find("title");

console.log($title.text());   // "RSS Title"
$title.text("XML Title");
console.log($title.text());   // "XML Title"

RSS Title
XML Title

var xml =
  '<rss><channel>' +
  '<item><title>Post A</title></item>' +
  '<item><title>Post B</title></item>' +
  '</channel></rss>';

var titles = [];
$($.parseXML(xml)).find("item > title").each(function () {
  titles.push($(this).text());
});

console.log(titles.join(" | "));  // "Post A | Post B"

Post A | Post B

var bad = "<root><child>";  // missing close tags
var $xml = $($.parseXML(bad));
var hasError = $xml.find("parsererror").length > 0;

console.log(hasError);  // true (in most browsers)

true

Performance Notes

Parsing dominates cost on large feeds. Parse once, keep the XMLDocument, and run multiple .find() calls on the same wrapper.

Key Takeaways