The complexType Element
A complex type constrains the structure of an element in an
XML instance.
A complexType element is the XML representation of a complex type.
Complex types provide the following functionality:
- The complex type supports adding attribute types to simple types.
- The complex type supports "empty content". Empty content means that a corresponding XML instance has no text or embedded elements. A complex type that specifies empty content may have attributes.
- The complex type supports nested element types.
- The complex type supports "mixed content". Mixed content means that a corresponding XML instance may contain text interspersed with elements.
Adding an Attribute to a simple type:
<xsd:complexType name="price"
final="restriction"
block="restriction"
abstract="true"
id="price.cType">
<xsd:annotation>
<xsd:documentation xml:lang="en">
Currently, currency is limited to
U S Dollars. Note that this type defined
non-instantiable. A derived type must be
defined that sets the range.
</xsd:documentation>
</xsd:annotation>
<xsd:simpleContent>
<xsd:extension base="xsd:decimal">
<xsd:attribute name="currency"
type="xsd:token"
fixed="U S Dollars">
<xsd:annotation>
<xsd:documentation xml:lang="en">
U S Dollars are the only currency
currently allowed.
</xsd:documentation>
</xsd:annotation>
</xsd:attribute>
</xsd:extension>
</xsd:simpleContent>
</xsd:complexType>
Empty Content with one Attribute:
<xsd:element name="customer">
<xsd:complexType>
<xsd:attribute name="customerID"
type="xsd:string"
use="required"/>
</xsd:complexType>
</xsd:element>
Nested Element Types:
<xsd:complexType name="addressType">
<xsd:sequence>
<xsd:element name="address" type="xsd:token"/>
<xsd:element name="city" type="xsd:token"/>
<xsd:element name="state" type="xsd:token"/>
<xsd:element name="country" type="xsd:token" fixed="USA"/>
<xsd:element name="zip" type="xsd:token"/>
</xsd:sequence>
</xsd:complexType>
Mixed Content:
<xsd:complexType name="catalogEntryDescriptionType"
mixed="true"
id="catalogEntryDescriptionType.catalog.cType">
<xsd:annotation>
<xsd:documentation xml:lang="en">
Allow the description of a part
to include part number references.
The "catalogEntryDescriptionType"
is a good example of a complex type
with "mixed" content.
-- Shorthand Notation --
</xsd:documentation>
</xsd:annotation>
<xsd:sequence minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
<xsd:element name="partList" type="partNumberListType"/>
</xsd:sequence>
</xsd:complexType>
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