XML Schema

Name

xs:element(reference or local definition) — Reference to a global element declaration or local definition (local definitions cannot be referenced).

Synopsis

<xs:element
           block         = ( “#all” | list of ( “extension” | “restriction” |
                              “substitution” ) )
           default       = xs:string
           fixed         = xs:string
           form          = ( “qualified” | “unqualified” )
           id            = xs:ID
           maxOccurs     = ( xs:nonNegativeInteger | “unbounded” ) : “1”
           minOccurs     = xs:nonNegativeInteger : “1”
           name          = xs:NCName
           nillable      = xs:boolean : “false”
           ref           = 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:choice (outside a group), xs:choice (within a group), xs:sequence (within a group), xs:sequence (outside a group)

Description

This element serves two different purposes and has two different content models for these purposes: it can either be a reference to a globally defined element or to a local element definition. These options are mutually exclusive.

When used as a reference to an element, the ref attribute must contain the qualified name of the element (with its namespace prefix).

When used as a local definition, the definition is done 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 ...