XML error reference · XV007
Invalid character in element or attribute name
A name uses a character XML does not allow, or starts with one it does not allow.
What your parser calls it
The same problem, reported differently by each parser. If you arrived here from one of these strings, you are in the right place.
| Parser | Message |
|---|---|
| libxml2 / xmllint | StartTag: invalid element name |
| .NET XmlException | Name cannot begin with the '2' character |
| Java SAXParser | Element type "2024-report" must be followed by either attribute specifications, ">" or "/>". |
What causes it
XML restricts names to the NameStartChar and NameChar productions of the specification. A name may begin with a letter, an underscore or a colon, but not with a digit, a hyphen or a period. After the first character, digits, hyphens and periods are allowed. Spaces and the characters `#`, `$`, `@`, `%`, `/` and `+` are never allowed anywhere in a name. Names beginning with the three letters "xml" in any case combination are reserved by the specification.
See it happen
<2024-report>
<total amount$="10"/>
</2024-report><report year="2024">
<total amount="10"/>
</report>How to fix it
Rename the element or attribute. When names are generated from data, and CSV column headers or JSON keys are the usual culprits, sanitise them first: prefix a leading digit with an underscore, and replace illegal characters rather than stripping them, so distinct source names stay distinct.
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