Parse XML in Android Using Kotlin with XMLPullParser

This example demonstrates how to use XMLPullParser to parse XML in Android using Kotlin.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent"
   android:layout_height="fill_parent"
   android:orientation="vertical">
   <ListView
      android:id="@+id/listView"
      android:layout_width="fill_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:dividerHeight="1dp" />
</LinearLayout>

Step 3 − Create a Layout resource file (row.xml) and add the following code −

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:padding="4dp">
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvName"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:textColor="@android:color/background_dark"
      android:textSize="16sp"
      android:textStyle="bold" />
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_below="@id/tvName"
      android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
      android:textColor="#343434"
      android:textSize="12sp" />
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/tvLocation"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_alignBaseline="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_alignBottom="@+id/tvDesignation"
      android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
      android:textColor="@android:color/background_dark"
      android:textSize="16sp" />
</RelativeLayout>

Step 5 − Create a new asset folder, and inside the asset folder create a Android resource file (model.xml) and add the following code −

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<users>
   <user>
      <name>Sehwag</name>
      <designation>Vice Captain</designation>
      <loation>Delhi</loation>
   </user>
   <user>
      <name>Ashwin</name>
      <designation>Off Spin Bowler</designation>
      <loation>Chennai</loation>
   </user>
   <user>
      <name>Dhoni</name>
      <designation>Captain</designation>
      <loation>Ranchi</loation>
   </user>
</users>
</resources>

Step 6 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.kt

import android.os.Bundle
import android.widget.ListAdapter
import android.widget.ListView
import android.widget.SimpleAdapter
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParser
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserException
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserFactory
import java.io.IOException
class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
   override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)
      title = "KotlinApp"
      try {
         val userList = ArrayList<java.util.HashMap<String?, String?>>()
         var user: HashMap<String?, String?>? = HashMap()
         val lv: ListView = findViewById(R.id.listView)
         val inputStream = assets.open("model.xml")
         val parserFactory: XmlPullParserFactory = XmlPullParserFactory.newInstance()
         val parser: XmlPullParser = parserFactory.newPullParser()
         parser.setFeature(XmlPullParser.FEATURE_PROCESS_NAMESPACES, true)
         parser.setInput(inputStream, null)
         var tag: String?
         var text = ""
         var event = parser.eventType
         while (event != XmlPullParser.END_DOCUMENT) {
            tag = parser.name
            when (event) {
               XmlPullParser.START_TAG -> if (tag == "user") user = HashMap()
               XmlPullParser.TEXT −> text = parser.text
               XmlPullParser.END_TAG −> when (tag) {
                  "name" −> user!!["name"] = text
                  "designation" −> user!!["designation"] = text
                  "location" −> user!!["location"] = text
                  "user" −> if (user != null) userList.add(user)
               }
            }
            event = parser.next()
         }
         val adapter: ListAdapter = SimpleAdapter(this@MainActivity, userList, R.layout.row,
         arrayOf("name", "designation", "location"), intArrayOf(R.id.tvName,
         R.id.tvDesignation, R.id.tvLocation))
         lv.adapter = adapter
      } catch (e: IOException) {
         e.printStackTrace()
      } catch (e: XmlPullParserException) {
         e.printStackTrace()
      }
   }
}

Step 6 − Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="com.example.q11">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click the Run icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen