Quick Answer
The answer is xml.etree.ElementTree, the most robust and recommended Python library for parsing NX-API XML output. This is because ElementTree is part of Python’s standard library, eliminating external dependencies, and its tree-based architecture handles XML namespaces and nested structures—common in NX-API responses—with precision, allowing reliable extraction of interface status using XPath or tag traversal without fragility. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this tests your ability to choose a built-in, schema-aware parser over third-party options like lxml or fragile string methods; a common trap is assuming lxml is required, but the exam emphasizes standard library solutions for production stability. Memory tip: “ElementTree is the standard tree—no extra packages, just robust parsing for NX-API XML.”
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A Python script uses NX-API's XML output to extract interface status. Which method is most robust and recommended for parsing the XML?
Split the string by tags
Why wrong: String splitting is fragile and cannot handle nested tags.
Use regular expressions to find patterns
Why wrong: Regex is not robust for XML due to nested structures.
Use BeautifulSoup
Why wrong: BeautifulSoup is an external dependency and heavier; ElementTree is preferred for simple XML.
Use xml.etree.ElementTree
ElementTree is built-in and efficient for XML parsing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use xml.etree.ElementTree
xml.etree.ElementTree is the recommended method because it is part of Python's standard library, provides robust tree-based parsing that handles XML namespaces and nested structures correctly, and is specifically designed for programmatic XML manipulation. For NX-API XML output, which follows a consistent schema, ElementTree allows reliable extraction of interface status using XPath or tag traversal without fragility.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Split the string by tags
Why it's wrong here
String splitting is fragile and cannot handle nested tags.
Use regular expressions to find patterns
Why it's wrong here
Regex is not robust for XML due to nested structures.
Use BeautifulSoup
Why it's wrong here
BeautifulSoup is an external dependency and heavier; ElementTree is preferred for simple XML.
Use xml.etree.ElementTree
Why this is correct
ElementTree is built-in and efficient for XML parsing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between built-in vs. third-party libraries and between string manipulation vs. proper parsing, leading candidates to choose BeautifulSoup (which is overkill and non-standard for XML) or regex (which seems flexible but is technically incorrect for XML).
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, xml.etree.ElementTree builds a tree of Element objects representing the XML document, allowing direct access to child elements and attributes via methods like find() and findall(). In real-world NX-API automation, this is critical because interface status fields like 'admin-state' or 'oper-state' are nested within multiple parent tags (e.g., <interface><ethernet><status>), and ElementTree's XPath support ensures reliable extraction even if the XML schema evolves. A subtle behavior is that ElementTree ignores XML comments and processing instructions, which are irrelevant for data extraction but could cause regex or string-splitting approaches to fail.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Automation — This question tests Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use xml.etree.ElementTree — xml.etree.ElementTree is the recommended method because it is part of Python's standard library, provides robust tree-based parsing that handles XML namespaces and nested structures correctly, and is specifically designed for programmatic XML manipulation. For NX-API XML output, which follows a consistent schema, ElementTree allows reliable extraction of interface status using XPath or tag traversal without fragility.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-601 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-601 exam.
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