XML Schema complexType Element
Complete XML Schema Reference
Definition and Usage
The complexType element defines a complex type. A complex type element is an XML element that contains other elements and/or attributes.
Element Information
- Parent elements: element, redefine, schema
Syntax
<complexType
id=ID
name=NCName
abstract=true|false
mixed=true|false
block=(#all|list of (extension|restriction))
final=(#all|list of (extension|restriction))
any attributes
>
(annotation?,(simpleContent|complexContent|((group|all|
choice|sequence)?,((attribute|attributeGroup)*,anyAttribute?))))
</complexType>
(The ? sign declares that the element can occur zero or one time, and the * sign declares that the element can occur zero or more times inside the complexType element)
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| id | Optional. Specifies a unique ID for the element |
| name | Optional. Specifies a name for the element |
| abstract | Optional. Specifies whether the complex type can be used in an instance document. True indicates that an element cannot use this complex type directly but must use a complex type derived from this complex type. Default is false |
| mixed | Optional. Specifies whether character data is allowed to appear between the child elements of this complexType element. Default is false. If a simpleContent element is a child element, the mixed attribute is not allowed! |
| block | Optional. Prevents a complex type that has a specified type
of derivation from being used in place of this complex type. This value can
contain #all or a list that is a subset of extension or restriction:
|
| final | Optional. Prevents a specified type of derivation of this
complex type element. Can contain #all or a list that is a subset of
extension or restriction.
|
| any attributes | Optional. Specifies any other attributes with non-schema namespace |
Example 1
The following example has an element named "note" that is of a complex type:
<xs:element name="note">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="to" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="from" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="heading" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="body" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
Example 2
The following example has a complex type, "fullpersoninfo", that derives from another complex type, "personinfo", by extending the inherited type with three additional elements (address, city and country):
<xs:element name="employee" type="fullpersoninfo"/>
<xs:complexType name="personinfo">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
<xs:complexType name="fullpersoninfo">
<xs:complexContent>
<xs:extension base="personinfo">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="address" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="city" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="country" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:extension>
</xs:complexContent>
</xs:complexType>
In the example above the "employee" element must contain, in sequence, the following elements: "firstname", "lastname", "address", "city", and "country".
Complete XML Schema Reference
