XML Schema

Name

xs:element(global definition) — Global element definition that can be referenced within the same schema by other schemas.

Synopsis

<xs:element
           abstract          = xs:boolean : “false”
           block             = ( “#all” | list of ( “extension” | “restriction” |
                                  “substitution” ) )
           default           = xs:string
           final             = ( “#all” | list of ( “extension” | “restriction” ) )
           fixed             = xs:string
           id                = xs:ID
           name              = xs:NCName
           nillable          = xs:boolean : “false”
           substitutionGroup = xs:QName
           type              = xs:QName
           {any attributes with non-schema namespace}
           >
           Content: (xs:annotation?, (xs:simpleType | xs:complexType)?, (xs:unique |
                     xs:key | xs:keyref)*)
</xs:element>

May be included in: xs:schema

Description

All the elements defined at the top level of a schema (i.e., xs:element, which is included directly under the xs:schema document element) are considered globally defined.

Globally defined elements have a global scope: they can be referenced through their qualified name everywhere in the schema in which they are defined, as well as in any schema that imports or includes this schema. They can also be used as document elements in instance documents.

Elements are identified by their qualified name, but the local name is expected in the name attribute. The type definition is performed by assigning a simple or complex datatype to the element.

This assignment can be done either by reference, using the type attribute to refer to a simple or complex datatype by its qualified name, or inline, by embedding the definition of the simple (xs:simpleType ...