SQL XMLATTRIBUTES

What is SQL XMLATTRIBUTES used for?

XMLATTRIBUTES maps column or literal values to attribute names when constructing an XML element.

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Compatible dialects for SQL XMLATTRIBUTES: Supports: Oracle, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2, Firebird. Not supported natively in MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite.

SQL XMLATTRIBUTES Full Explanation

XMLATTRIBUTES is an SQL/XML constructor used inside XMLELEMENT to generate one or more attributes for the resulting XML element. Each attribute is defined by an expression followed by the keyword AS and the desired attribute name. When the query runs, the database evaluates every expression, converts the result to a string according to XML rules, and inserts it as an attribute on the parent element. NULL expressions are omitted, preventing empty attributes. Attribute names can be quoted or unquoted identifiers; they are case sensitive in most engines. The feature is part of the ISO SQL:2003 SQL/XML specification and is natively supported in Oracle, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2, and other standards-compliant systems.

SQL XMLATTRIBUTES Syntax

XMLATTRIBUTES(expression1 AS attribute_name1 [, expression2 AS attribute_name2 ...])

SQL XMLATTRIBUTES Parameters

expressionN (any SQL expression) - value to be stored as the attribute’s text
attribute_nameN (identifier or quoted identifier) - name of the resulting XML attribute

Example Queries Using SQL XMLATTRIBUTES

-- PostgreSQL example
SELECT XMLELEMENT(NAME employee,
         XMLATTRIBUTES(emp_no AS "id", first_name || ' ' || last_name AS "fullName"),
         salary) AS employee_xml
FROM employees
LIMIT 1;

-- Oracle example
SELECT XMLELEMENT("Employee",
         XMLATTRIBUTES(e.empno AS "id", e.ename AS "name"),
         e.sal) AS employee_xml
FROM emp e
WHERE ROWNUM <= 1;

Expected Output Using SQL XMLATTRIBUTES

Each row returns an XML fragment similar to:65000

Use Cases with SQL XMLATTRIBUTES

Building XML API payloads directly in SQL
Exporting relational data to XML files
Embedding attribute metadata (ids, timestamps, flags) alongside element content
Feeding XML-based message queues or service buses

Common Mistakes with SQL XMLATTRIBUTES

Omitting the AS keyword between an expression and attribute name
Using invalid XML characters or spaces in attribute names
Expecting NULL expressions to create empty attributes (they are skipped)
Using XMLATTRIBUTES outside of XMLELEMENT (most dialects do not allow standalone use)

First Introduced In

SQL:2003 (SQL/XML)

Frequently Asked Questions

What databases implement XMLATTRIBUTES?

Oracle, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2, and Firebird support XMLATTRIBUTES. MySQL, SQL Server, and SQLite do not implement it natively.

Does XMLATTRIBUTES create empty attributes for NULL values?

No. When an expression returns NULL, the attribute is completely omitted, ensuring clean XML output.

Can attribute names be dynamic?

Attribute names must be literals in the query. Only the attribute values can be supplied from expressions.

How is XMLATTRIBUTES different from XMLFOREST?

XMLATTRIBUTES generates attributes for a single element, while XMLFOREST creates multiple child elements. They are complementary tools in SQL/XML.