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String data types are used to represent characters in the XML documents.

<xs:string> data type

The <xs:string> data type can take characters, line feeds, carriage returns, and tab characters. The XML processor does not replace line feeds, carriage returns, and tab characters in the content with space and keep them intact. For example, multiple spaces or tabs are preserved during display.

<xs:string> Example

Element declaration in xsd −

<xs:element name = "name" type = "xs:string"/>

Element usage in xml −

<name>Dinkar</name>
<name>Dinkar    Kad</name>

<xs:token> data type

The <xs:token> data type is derived from <string> data type and can take characters, line feeds, carriage returns, and tab characters. XML processor will remove line feeds, tabs, carriage returns, leading and trailing spaces, and multiple spaces.

<xs:token> Example

Element declaration in xsd −

<xs:element name = "name" type = "xs:token"/>

Element usage in xml −

<name>Dinesh</name>
<name>Dinesh   choudhaury</name>

String Data Types

Following is the list of commonly used data types which are derived from <string> data type.

S.No.	Name & Description
1	IDRepresents the ID attribute in XML and is used in schema attributes.
2	IDREFRepresents the IDREF attribute in XML and is used in schema attributes.
3	languageRepresents a valid language id
4	NameRepresents a valid XML name
5	NMTOKENRepresents a NMTOKEN attribute in XML and is used in schema attributes.
6	normalizedStringRepresents a string that does not contain line feeds, carriage returns, or tabs.
7	stringRepresents a string that can contain line feeds, carriage returns, or tabs.
8	tokenRepresents a string that does not contain line feeds, carriage returns, tabs, leading or trailing spaces, or multiple spaces

Restrictions

Following types of restrictions can be used with String data types −

• enumeration
• length
• maxLength
• minLength
• pattern
• whiteSpace