How to add attribute without a value with pugixml?

Question

How can pugixml generate an attribute without a value?

Consider the following desired html:

<option value="book" selected>book</option>

The question is about the selected attribute, how to add this through pugixml.

Here is the code I currently use to generate that attribute:

option_node.append_attribute("selected");

This code adds an empty value to the attribute, as follows:

<option value="book" selected="">book</option>

Botje · Accepted Answer · 2025-04-10 14:34:56Z

2

This is a correct representation. The Section 13.1.2.3 of the HTML5 standard states:

Empty attribute syntax

Just the attribute name. The value is implicitly the empty string.
Example: <input disabled>

If you really want the empty syntax in the output, consider writing a PR for PugiXML.

answered Apr 10 at 14:34

Botje

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2 Comments

teusbenschop Apr 10 at 15:17

Thank you that helps. I'll accept your answer because 1) It implicitly answers the question with "No, PugiXML cannot do this currently", and 2) It shows that the form of selected="" is still valid in HTML5.

Botje Apr 10 at 16:10

Pugixml cannot do it because the result is not valid XML. XML and HTML5 may look alike but they play by different rules.

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