What's the best XML parser for Perl?

Question

I have tried many of the Perl XML Parsers. I was quite interested in the Sablotron Parser, but it is such a pain to install on a Windows box. Currently I have started using XML::LibXML and XML::LibXSLT both of which seem to do everything I need.

They seem to be quite standard as well. Are there any better XML Parsers to use than this?

Answer 1

I think you should give XML::MyXML a try, too. It's very easy to use.

Answer 2

You could also look at XML::Liberal which uses LibXML underneath.

Answer 3

If you need speed, power or features, XML::LibXML is the way to go. If you're after ease of use, though, XML::Simple is a viable alternative.

Answer 4

In my experience XML::Simple is best for quick and dirty parsing of XML. We use it for parsing data from third parties that do not always conform to the XML standard. XML::Simple throws informative errors and gets you up an running extremely quickly.

Answer 5

(Actually it's not an answer, but a comment - however, I cannot comment...)

XML::Simple has been mentioned here.
(I know it's few from few years ago, but this appeared up in Google today...)

However, it's site (http://metacpan.org/pod/XML::Simple) now says:

STATUS OF THIS MODULE

The use of this module in new code is discouraged. Other modules are available which provide more straightforward and consistent interfaces. In particular, XML::LibXML is highly recommended.

The major problems with this module are the large number of options and the arbitrary ways in which these options interact - often with unexpected results.

Patches with bug fixes and documentation fixes are welcome, but new features are unlikely to be added.

Answer 6

I think you are using a pretty good one. XML::LibXML, Matt Sergeant and Christian Glahn's Perl interface to Daniel Velliard's libxml2 is one of the faster XML Parsers that I know of.