XSD - Complex Types

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Complex Element is an XML element which can contain other elements and/or attributes. We can create a complex element in two ways −

  • Define a complex type and then create an element using the type attribute

  • Define a complex type directly by naming

Define a Complex Type and then create an element using type attribute.

<xs:complexType name = "StudentType">
   <xs:sequence>
      <xs:element name = "firstname" type = "xs:string"/>
      <xs:element name = "lastname" type = "xs:string"/>
      <xs:element name = "nickname" type = "xs:string"/>
      <xs:element name = "marks" type = "xs:positiveInteger"/>
   </xs:sequence>
   <xs:attribute name = 'rollno' type = 'xs:positiveInteger'/>
</xs:complexType>

<xs:element name = 'student' type = 'StudentType' />

Define a Complex Type directly by naming.

<xs:element name = "student">
   <xs:complexType>   
      <xs:sequence>
         <xs:element name = "firstname" type = "xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name = "lastname" type = "xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name = "nickname" type = "xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name = "marks" type = "xs:positiveInteger"/>
      </xs:sequence>
   <xs:attribute name = 'rollno' type = 'xs:positiveInteger'/>
   </xs:complexType>
<xs:element>

Following is the list of Complex Types that XSD supports.

S.No. Simple Type & Description
1

Empty

Complex Empty complex type element can only have attributes but no contents.
2

Elements Only

Elements-Only complex type element can only contain elements
3

Text Only

Text-Only complex type element can only contain attribute and text.
4

Mixed

Mixed complex type element can contain element, attribute and text.
5

Indicators

Indicators controls the ways how elements are to be organized in an XML document.
6

<any>

The <any> element is used for elements which are not defined by schema
7

<anyAttribute>

The <anyAttribute> attribute is used for attribute which are not defined by schema.
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