Example: Specify a root element for the XML generated by FOR XML

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

By specifying the ROOT option in the FOR XML query, you can request a single, top-level element for the resulting XML, as shown in this query. The argument specified for the ROOT directive provides the root element name.

Example

USE AdventureWorks2022;
GO
SELECT ProductModelID, Name
FROM Production.ProductModel
WHERE ProductModelID IN (122, 119, 115)
FOR XML RAW, ROOT('MyRoot');
GO

This is the result:

<MyRoot>
  <row ProductModelID="122" Name="All-Purpose Bike Stand" />
  <row ProductModelID="119" Name="Bike Wash" />
  <row ProductModelID="115" Name="Cable Lock" />
</MyRoot>

See also

• Use RAW Mode with FOR XML