How to Get API Response in XML Format?

To get an API response in XML format, you typically need to specify your preference in the request headers, most commonly using the Accept header. This header tells the server which media types the client is capable of processing.

According to common API practices, including those referenced:

• For XML, choose either one of the following header values: application/xml or text/xml.

By including one of these values in the Accept header of your HTTP request, you signal to the API server that you prefer the response body to be formatted as XML. The server, if it supports XML output, will then attempt to fulfill this request and include the appropriate Content-Type header (e.g., Content-Type: application/xml) in its response to confirm the format.

Utilizing the Accept Header

The Accept header is a standard part of the HTTP protocol. When making a request to an API endpoint that supports multiple response formats (like JSON, XML, HTML, etc.), setting the Accept header is the primary way to request a specific format.

Here are the key values you would use, as indicated in the reference:

Media Type	Accept Header Value(s)	Purpose
XML	application/xml	Standard for XML data
XML	text/xml	Alternative for XML data

While both application/xml and text/xml are used for XML, application/xml is generally considered the more standard and preferred type for XML data transferred via HTTP. Always check the API documentation you are using, as it may specify which of these values it expects or prefers.

Examples of Requesting XML

Here are practical examples demonstrating how to include the Accept header when making an API request using different tools and programming languages:

Using cURL

cURL is a command-line tool often used for making HTTP requests.

curl -H "Accept: application/xml" https://api.example.com/data

or using the alternative value:

curl -H "Accept: text/xml" https://api.example.com/data

Using Python with requests

The requests library is a popular choice for making HTTP requests in Python.

import requests

url = 'https://api.example.com/data'
headers = {
    'Accept': 'application/xml'
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print(response.text) # response.text will contain the XML data
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

Using JavaScript with Fetch API

The Fetch API is a modern way to make HTTP requests in web browsers and Node.js environments.

fetch('https://api.example.com/data', {
  headers: {
    'Accept': 'application/xml'
  }
})
.then(response => {
  if (!response.ok) {
    throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
  }
  return response.text(); // Get response as text
})
.then(xmlData => {
  console.log(xmlData); // xmlData contains the XML string
})
.catch(error => {
  console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
});

In each of these examples, setting the Accept header to application/xml (or text/xml) is the key step to request the API response in XML format. The API server then processes this header and sends back data formatted as XML, if it supports that option for the requested endpoint. Always consult the specific API's documentation for exact details on supported formats and expected headers.