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JavaScript

Posted by Gabriel D. Celery
Gabriel D. Celery
13,810 Points

Ajax - issue with returned XML

Let's say I have a very simple XML file thats saved as "sample.xml".

<address>
    <name>Joe Tester</name>
    <street>Baker street 5</street>
</address>

Now if I try to do this:

$.ajax({
    method: "GET",
    url: "sample.xml",
    success: function (data){
        var $xmlData = data;
        console.log($xmlData.find("name").text());
    }   
});

I get an error, that $xmlData.find is not a function. But if I do this:

$.ajax({
    method: "GET",
    url: "sample.xml",
    success: function (data){
        var $xmlData = $(data); // Here is the change
        console.log($xmlData.find("name").text());
    }   
});

The code runs as expected. My question is why is this happening? The reason why its confusing is because I don't have to do this if I am requesting JSON.