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xmlnamespacesxml-namespacesprefix

In XML does prefix equal namespace or belongs to namespace?

In the example is foo equal to "abc123" (that is just a shorthand) or belongs to "abc123" namespace?

<root xmlns:foo="abc123">
  <foo:parent>
    ...
  </foo:parent>
</root>

If it belongs, than it is possible to have many prefixes bound to the same namespace, like:

<root xmlns:a="namespace_A" xmlns:b="namespace_A">
   <a:element> ... </element>
   <b:element>     </element>
</root>
Solution

  • A namespace prefix (foo) serves as a placeholder for a namespace name (abc123). So, your shorthand label fits better.

    Different namespace prefixes may be defined for the same namespace name, but different namespace names may not have the same namespace prefix.