---
name: "XML::Doctype::ElementDecl"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libxml-autowriter-perl"
version: "0.40-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XML::Doctype::ElementDecl"
---

# XML::Doctype::ElementDecl(3pm)

A class representing an \<!ELEMENT\> tag

## NAME

XML::Doctype::ElementDecl - A class representing an \<!ELEMENT\> tag

## SYNOPSIS

```
   $elt = $dtd->element( 'foo' ) ;
   $elt->name() ;
   $elt->attr( 'foo' ) ;
```

## DESCRIPTION

This module is used to represent \<!ELEMENT\> tags in an XML::Doctype object. It contains \<!ATTLIST\> tags as well.

## STATUS

This module is alpha code.  It's developed enough to support XML::ValidWriter, but need a lot of work.  Some big things that are lacking are:

## METHODS

- new

  ```
     # Undefined element constructors:
     $dtd = XML::Doctype::ElementDecl->new( $name ) ;
     $dtd = XML::Doctype::ElementDecl->new( $name, undef, \@attdefs ) ;
     # Defined element constructors
     $dtd = XML::Doctype::ElementDecl->new( $name, \@kids, \@attdef ) ;
     $dtd = XML::Doctype::ElementDecl->new( $name, [], \@attdefs ) ;
  ```

- add\_attdef

  ```
     $elt_decl->add_attdef( $att_def ) ;
  ```

- attdef

  ```
     $attr = $elt->attdef( $name ) ;
  ```

  Returns the XML::Doctype::AttDef named by `$name` or undef if there is no such attribute.

- attdefs

  ```
     $attdefs = $elt->attdefs( $name ) ;
  ```

  Returns the list of XML::Doctype::AttDef instances associated with this element.

- attribute\_names

  Returns a list of the attdefs' names.

- child\_names

  ```
     @names = $elt->child_names ;
  ```

  Returns a list of names of elements in this element decl's content model.

- is\_declared

  ```
     if ( $elt_decl->is_declared ) ...
     $elt_decl->is_declared( 1 ) ;
  ```

  Returns TRUE if there is any data defined in the element other than name and attributes or if is\_declared has been set by calling is\_declared( 1 ) or passing DECLARED =\> 1 to **new()**.

- is\_empty

  - is\_any

  - is\_mixed

  - name

  ```
     $n = $elt_decl->name ;
  ```

  Gets the name of the element.

- validate\_content

  ```
     $v = $elt_decl->validate_content( \@seq ) ;
  ```

  Takes an ARRAY ref of tag names (or '#PCDATA') and checks to see if it would be valid content for elements of this type.

  Right now, this must be called only when an element's end tag is emitted.  It can be broadened to be incremental if need be.

## SUBCLASSING

This object uses the fields pragma, so you should use base and fields for any subclasses.

## AUTHOR

Barrie Slaymaker \<barries@slaysys.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

This module is Copyright 2000, 2005 Barrie Slaymaker.  All rights reserved.

This module is licensed under your choice of the Artistic, BSD or General Public License.