lxml_builder.py

# import the part of the library you'll need
>>> from lxml.builder import E

# the basic format for using E is: 
# E.[name of tag]([tag text], [attribute name]=[attribute value], [anything else that comes inside the tag])

# A single-tag example:
>>> new_element = E.extent("25 photographs", encodinganalog="300")

# printing to see the results
>>> print(etree.tostring(new_element))
'<extent encodinganalog="300">25 photographs</extent>'

# Complex tag-building with the E tool:
>>> element = E.did(
                E.unittitle("Ann Arbor Superheroes"),
                E.container("Box 1", type="box"),
                E.physdesc(
                  E.extent("25 photographs", encodinganalog="300"),
                  altrender="whole"
                )
              )
              
# the results
>>> print(etree.tostring(element, pretty_print=True))
'''
<did>
  <unittitle>Ann Arbor Superheroes</unittitle>
  <container type="box">Box 1</container>
  <physdesc altrender="whole">
    <extent encodinganalog="300">25 photographs</extent>
  </physdesc>
</did>
'''