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IMPORTXML

The IMPORTXML formula allows you to import data from an XML or HTML document on the web. This can be useful for scraping data from websites or for importing data from APIs that return XML data. The formula takes a URL and an XPath query as inputs and returns the data that matches the query.

Usage

Use the IMPORTXML formula with the syntax shown below, it has 2 required parameters:

=IMPORTXML(url, xpath_query)
Parameters:
  1. url (required):
    The URL of the XML or HTML document to import data from. The URL must be enclosed in quotation marks.
  2. xpath_query (required):
    The XPath query to use to extract data from the XML or HTML document. The query must be enclosed in quotation marks.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the IMPORTXML formula in Google Sheets.

Scrape data from a table on a website

You can use the IMPORTXML formula to extract data from a table on a website. First, find the XPath query for the table you want to import. Then, use the formula to import the table data into your Google Sheet.

Get data from an API

Many APIs return data in XML format. You can use the IMPORTXML formula to extract data from these APIs and import it into your Google Sheet. Simply provide the API URL and the XPath query for the data you want to import.

Common Mistakes

IMPORTXML not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the IMPORTXML Google Sheets Formula:

Invalid URL

One common mistake when using IMPORTXML is providing an invalid URL. This can cause the formula to return an error or to import incomplete or incorrect data. Make sure to double-check that the URL is correct and that it points to an XML document.

Invalid XPath query

Another common mistake when using IMPORTXML is providing an invalid XPath query. This can cause the formula to return an error or to import incomplete or incorrect data. Make sure to double-check that the XPath query is correct and that it targets the data you want to extract from the XML document.

Slow performance

Using IMPORTXML to import data from a large or complex XML document can result in slow performance or even cause the formula to time out. To avoid this, try to target only the data you need, and consider breaking up the import into smaller chunks using multiple formulas or by using the QUERY function to filter the results.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to IMPORTXML or are often used with it in a formula:

  • IMPORTHTML

    The IMPORTHTML function is used to import data from a table or list within an HTML page. This function is commonly used to pull data from websites and display it in a Google Sheet.

  • IMPORTFEED

    The IMPORTFEED function in Google Sheets is used to import an RSS or ATOM feed and display the content in a tabular format in the sheet. It requires only the URL of the feed as a parameter.

  • IMPORTDATA

    The IMPORTDATA function imports data from a URL in CSV or TSV format into a Google Sheet. The data is automatically refreshed by Google Sheets every hour, or you can manually refresh it by clicking on the cell and selecting 'Data' > 'Refresh data'.

Learn More

You can learn more about the IMPORTXML Google Sheets function on Google Support.