LINQ to XML. How to get some string?

Question

I have xml:

  
    Ray
    Other

        

Answer 1

When using Elements() you have to specify the structure more precisely.

In your code, cover is a <book> element. But size is an attribute of <cover>.

    var c = from cover in xml.Elements("book")
                where (string)cover.Attribute("size").Value == "mini"
                select cover.Value;

This ought to work:

    var c = from cover in xml.Elements("book")
                    .Elements("cover")
                where (string)cover.Attribute("size").Value == "mini"
                select cover.Value;

Answer 2

Xpath can simplify your code

var covers = xDoc.XPathSelectElements("//cover[@size='mini']").ToList();    

to get the inner text

var covers = xDoc.XPathSelectElements("//cover[@size='mini']")
                .Select(x => x.Value)
                .ToList();