End Tag

The end tag functions exactly like a right parenthesis or a closing quotation mark or a right curly brace . It contains no data of its own; it simply ends the most recent (innermost) tag with the same name .

XML requires a matching end tag for each start tag. Not only must they have matching names , but they must also nest properly. The most recently encountered start tag must be paired with the next end tag. If they do not match, it is a fatal error.

Syntax

The end tag contains exactly the same name as the start tag it closes . Simple punctuation distinguishes it from the start tag:

XML

 </TAG> 

It cannot include attribute assignments or any other content.

Rules

Each end tag must have

• the </ character pair

• the name

• the > character

Alternatively, in the special case of an empty element, the end tag may be fused with the start tag. This results in an empty tag containing

• the < character

• the name

• optional attribute assignments

• the /> character pair

Examples of End Tags

<Team> . . . </Team>	Street, city, etc.
<Team> . . . <Player> . . . </Player> . . . </Team>-	Proper nesting
<Play> </Play>	Empty Play element
<Play/>	Exactly equivalent to the preceding , using an empty tag
<Play speed= "normal"/>	Empty Play element with speed attribute
<A><B> . . . <C/> <C/><B> . . . <C></C></B></B></A>	Complex nesting: A contains only B, which contains data, two empty Cs, and another B. This inner B also has data and a single empty C. All three Cs are equivalent.

Bad Examples

<Team> </team>	Not a match (case violation)
<Team/>. . . </Team>	End tag paired with self-ending empty start tag
<Team> . . . <Player> . . . </Team> </Player>	Bad nesting