Chapter 8. Alternative API: SAX

In the previous chapter you learned how to use DOM, an object-based API for XML parsers. This chapter complements the discussion on XML parsers with an introduction to SAX.

You will see that SAX

• Is an event-based API.

• Operates at a lower level than DOM.

• Gives you more control than DOM.

• Is almost always more efficient than DOM.

• But, unfortunately, requires more work than DOM.