writeEndElement

WriteEndElement is a method used in XML writer APIs to close the current element. It writes the corresponding end tag for the most recently opened start element and removes that element from the writer’s internal stack, contributing to the generation of well-formed XML.

The typical sequence involves opening an element with a start method (such as WriteStartElement), optionally writing attributes or content, and then calling WriteEndElement to finish the element. If there is no content inside the element, the writer may emit a self-closing tag (for example, <element … />) depending on the implementation and settings. WriteEndElement must be called in a properly nested order; it closes the most recently opened element, so mismatched or missing calls can produce invalid XML or trigger an exception.

WriteEndElement is commonly used in incremental or streaming XML construction, where elements are opened and closed as the document is built. In some APIs, there are alternative approaches to writing a complete element in one call, such as a method that writes a full element with its content in a single operation; in such cases, WriteEndElement is not required for that element.

Common considerations include ensuring that every WriteStartElement has a corresponding WriteEndElement, and handling exceptions or control flow to maintain correct nesting. As with other XML-writing operations, improper use can result in malformed documents, so patterns that ensure balanced start and end calls are important for reliability. See also WriteStartElement, WriteElementString, and related end-element operations in the same XML writer API.

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