diff --git a/src/element.rs b/src/element.rs
index 4c39c6a..6d2a6b7 100644
--- a/src/element.rs
+++ b/src/element.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub struct NamespaceDeclaration {
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Name {
     pub namespace: String,
-    pub name: String,
+    pub local_name: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub struct Element {
     // namespace: String,
     // hashmap of explicit namespace declarations on the element itself only
     // possibly not needed as can be calculated at write time depending on context and qualified namespace, and for reading, element validity and namespaces are kept track of by the reader.
-    // pub namespace_decl: HashSet<Namespace>,
+    pub namespace_declarations: HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>,
     // attributes can be in a different namespace than the element. how to make sure they are valid?
     // maybe include the namespace instead of or with the prefix
     // you can calculate the prefix from the namespaced name and the current writer context
diff --git a/src/reader.rs b/src/reader.rs
index 654ca2a..a05e73b 100644
--- a/src/reader.rs
+++ b/src/reader.rs
@@ -277,10 +277,12 @@ where
 impl<R> Reader<R> {
     fn start_tag_from_xml(
         depth: &mut Vec<Name>,
-        namespaces: &mut Vec<HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>>,
+        namespace_declarations: &mut Vec<HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>>,
         s_tag: xml::STag,
     ) -> Result<Element> {
-        let mut namespace_declarations = HashSet::new();
+        // namespace declarations on element
+
+        let mut element_namespace_declarations = HashSet::new();
         for (prefix, namespace) in s_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
             if let xml::Attribute::NamespaceDeclaration { ns_name, value } = attribute {
                 Some((ns_name, value))
@@ -298,20 +300,49 @@ impl<R> Reader<R> {
                 prefix,
                 namespace: namespace.process()?,
             };
-            if !namespace_declarations.insert(namespace.clone()) {
+            if !element_namespace_declarations.insert(namespace.clone()) {
                 return Err(Error::DuplicateNameSpaceDeclaration(namespace));
             }
         }
 
-        // all namespaces available to the element (from both parent elements and element itself)
-        let namespace_stack: Vec<&NamespaceDeclaration> = namespaces
+        // all namespaces available in the element scope (from both parent elements and element itself)
+        let namespace_declarations_stack: Vec<&NamespaceDeclaration> = namespace_declarations
             .iter()
             .flatten()
-            .chain(namespace_declarations.iter())
+            .chain(element_namespace_declarations.iter())
             .collect();
 
-        let mut attributes = HashMap::new();
+        // element name and default attribute namespace
 
+        let element_namespace_declaration;
+        let element_local_name = s_tag.name.local_part().to_string();
+
+        match s_tag.name.prefix() {
+            Some(prefix) => {
+                element_namespace_declaration = namespace_declarations_stack
+                    .iter()
+                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(prefix));
+            }
+            None => {
+                element_namespace_declaration = namespace_declarations_stack
+                    .iter()
+                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
+            }
+        }
+
+        let element_default_namespace = element_namespace_declaration
+            .ok_or_else(|| Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(s_tag.name.to_string()))?
+            .namespace
+            .clone();
+
+        let element_name = Name {
+            namespace: element_default_namespace,
+            local_name: element_local_name,
+        };
+
+        // attributes
+
+        let mut attributes = HashMap::new();
         for (q_name, value) in s_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
             if let xml::Attribute::Attribute { name, value } = attribute {
                 Some((name, value))
@@ -319,28 +350,26 @@ impl<R> Reader<R> {
                 None
             }
         }) {
-            let namespace;
-            let attribute_name;
-            match q_name {
-                xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                    namespace = namespace_stack.iter().rfind(|namespace| {
-                        namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix)
-                    });
-                    attribute_name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-                }
-                xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                    namespace = namespace_stack
-                        .iter()
-                        .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                    attribute_name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
+            let attribute_namespace_declaration;
+            let attribute_local_name = q_name.local_part().to_string();
+            match q_name.prefix() {
+                Some(prefix) => {
+                    attribute_namespace_declaration =
+                        namespace_declarations_stack
+                            .iter()
+                            .rfind(|namespace_declaration| {
+                                namespace_declaration.prefix.as_deref() == Some(prefix)
+                            });
                 }
+                None => attribute_namespace_declaration = element_namespace_declaration,
             }
-            if let Some(namespace_declaration) = namespace {
+            if let Some(namespace_declaration) = attribute_namespace_declaration {
                 let name = Name {
                     namespace: namespace_declaration.namespace.clone(),
-                    name: attribute_name,
+                    local_name: attribute_local_name,
                 };
                 let value = value.process()?;
+                // check for duplicate attribute
                 if let Some(_value) = attributes.insert(name, value) {
                     return Err(Error::DuplicateAttribute(q_name.to_string()));
                 }
@@ -349,38 +378,13 @@ impl<R> Reader<R> {
             }
         }
 
-        let name;
-        let namespace;
-        match &s_tag.name {
-            xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                namespace = namespace_stack
-                    .iter()
-                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix));
-                name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-            }
-            xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                namespace = namespace_stack
-                    .iter()
-                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
-            }
-        }
+        depth.push(element_name.clone());
 
-        let namespace_declaration = (*namespace
-            .ok_or_else(|| Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(s_tag.name.to_string()))?)
-        .clone();
-
-        let name = Name {
-            namespace: namespace_declaration.namespace,
-            name,
-        };
-
-        depth.push(name.clone());
-
-        namespaces.push(namespace_declarations.clone());
+        namespace_declarations.push(element_namespace_declarations.clone());
 
         return Ok(Element {
-            name,
+            name: element_name,
+            namespace_declarations: element_namespace_declarations,
             attributes,
             content: Vec::new(),
         });
@@ -418,13 +422,16 @@ impl<R> Reader<R> {
                     name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
                 }
             }
-            let e_tag_name = Name { namespace, name };
+            let e_tag_name = Name {
+                namespace,
+                local_name: name,
+            };
             if s_tag_name == e_tag_name {
                 namespaces.pop();
                 return Ok(());
             } else {
                 return Err(Error::MismatchedEndTag(
-                    s_tag_name.name,
+                    s_tag_name.local_name,
                     e_tag.name.to_string(),
                 ));
             }
@@ -434,240 +441,153 @@ impl<R> Reader<R> {
     }
 
     fn element_from_xml(
-        namespaces: &mut Vec<HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>>,
+        namespace_declarations: &mut Vec<HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>>,
         element: xml::Element,
     ) -> Result<Element> {
+        let xml_name;
+        let xml_attributes;
+        let xml_content;
+        let xml_e_name;
+
         match element {
             xml::Element::Empty(empty_elem_tag) => {
-                let mut namespace_declarations = HashSet::new();
-                for (prefix, namespace) in
-                    empty_elem_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
-                        if let xml::Attribute::NamespaceDeclaration { ns_name, value } = attribute {
-                            Some((ns_name, value))
-                        } else {
-                            None
-                        }
-                    })
-                {
-                    let prefix = match prefix {
-                        xml::NSAttName::PrefixedAttName(prefixed_att_name) => {
-                            Some(prefixed_att_name.to_string())
-                        }
-                        xml::NSAttName::DefaultAttName => None,
-                    };
-                    let namespace = NamespaceDeclaration {
-                        prefix,
-                        namespace: namespace.process()?,
-                    };
-                    if !namespace_declarations.insert(namespace.clone()) {
-                        return Err(Error::DuplicateNameSpaceDeclaration(namespace));
-                    }
-                }
-
-                // all namespaces available to the element (from both parent elements and element itself)
-                let namespace_stack: Vec<&NamespaceDeclaration> = namespaces
-                    .iter()
-                    .flatten()
-                    .chain(namespace_declarations.iter())
-                    .collect();
-
-                let mut attributes = HashMap::new();
-
-                for (q_name, value) in empty_elem_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
-                    if let xml::Attribute::Attribute { name, value } = attribute {
-                        Some((name, value))
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    }
-                }) {
-                    let namespace;
-                    let attribute_name;
-                    match q_name {
-                        xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                            namespace = namespace_stack.iter().rfind(|namespace| {
-                                namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix)
-                            });
-                            attribute_name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-                        }
-                        xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                            namespace = namespace_stack
-                                .iter()
-                                .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                            attribute_name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
-                        }
-                    }
-                    if let Some(namespace) = namespace {
-                        let namespace = (*namespace).clone();
-                        let name = Name {
-                            namespace: namespace.namespace,
-                            name: attribute_name,
-                        };
-                        let value = value.process()?;
-                        if let Some(_value) = attributes.insert(name, value) {
-                            return Err(Error::DuplicateAttribute(q_name.to_string()));
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        return Err(Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(q_name.to_string()));
-                    }
-                }
-
-                let name;
-                let namespace;
-                match &empty_elem_tag.name {
-                    xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                        namespace = namespace_stack.iter().rfind(|namespace| {
-                            namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix)
-                        });
-                        name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-                    }
-                    xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                        namespace = namespace_stack
-                            .iter()
-                            .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                        name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
-                    }
-                }
-
-                let namespace = (*namespace
-                    .ok_or_else(|| Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(empty_elem_tag.name.to_string()))?)
-                .clone();
-
-                let name = Name {
-                    namespace: namespace.namespace,
-                    name,
-                };
-
-                return Ok(Element {
-                    name,
-                    attributes,
-                    content: Vec::new(),
-                });
+                xml_name = empty_elem_tag.name;
+                xml_attributes = empty_elem_tag.attributes;
+                xml_content = None;
+                xml_e_name = None;
             }
             xml::Element::NotEmpty(s_tag, content, e_tag) => {
-                if s_tag.name != e_tag.name {
-                    return Err(Error::MismatchedEndTag(
-                        s_tag.name.to_string(),
-                        e_tag.name.to_string(),
-                    ));
-                }
-                let mut namespace_declarations = HashSet::new();
-                for (prefix, namespace) in s_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
-                    if let xml::Attribute::NamespaceDeclaration { ns_name, value } = attribute {
-                        Some((ns_name, value))
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    }
-                }) {
-                    let prefix = match prefix {
-                        xml::NSAttName::PrefixedAttName(prefixed_att_name) => {
-                            Some(prefixed_att_name.to_string())
-                        }
-                        xml::NSAttName::DefaultAttName => None,
-                    };
-                    let namespace = NamespaceDeclaration {
-                        prefix,
-                        namespace: namespace.process()?,
-                    };
-                    if !namespace_declarations.insert(namespace.clone()) {
-                        return Err(Error::DuplicateNameSpaceDeclaration(namespace));
-                    }
-                }
-
-                // all namespaces available to the element (from both parent elements and element itself)
-                let namespace_stack: Vec<&NamespaceDeclaration> = namespaces
-                    .iter()
-                    .flatten()
-                    .chain(namespace_declarations.iter())
-                    .collect();
-
-                let mut attributes = HashMap::new();
-
-                for (q_name, value) in s_tag.attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
-                    if let xml::Attribute::Attribute { name, value } = attribute {
-                        Some((name, value))
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    }
-                }) {
-                    let namespace;
-                    let attribute_name;
-                    match q_name {
-                        xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                            namespace = namespace_stack.iter().rfind(|namespace| {
-                                namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix)
-                            });
-                            attribute_name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-                        }
-                        xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                            namespace = namespace_stack
-                                .iter()
-                                .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                            attribute_name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
-                        }
-                    }
-                    if let Some(namespace) = namespace {
-                        let namespace = (*namespace).clone();
-                        let name = Name {
-                            namespace: namespace.namespace,
-                            name: attribute_name,
-                        };
-                        let value = value.process()?;
-                        if let Some(_value) = attributes.insert(name, value) {
-                            return Err(Error::DuplicateAttribute(q_name.to_string()));
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        return Err(Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(q_name.to_string()));
-                    }
-                }
-
-                let name;
-                let namespace;
-                match &s_tag.name {
-                    xml::QName::PrefixedName(prefixed_name) => {
-                        namespace = namespace_stack.iter().rfind(|namespace| {
-                            namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(**prefixed_name.prefix)
-                        });
-                        name = prefixed_name.local_part.to_string();
-                    }
-                    xml::QName::UnprefixedName(unprefixed_name) => {
-                        namespace = namespace_stack
-                            .iter()
-                            .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
-                        name = unprefixed_name.to_string();
-                    }
-                }
-
-                let namespace = (*namespace
-                    .ok_or_else(|| Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(s_tag.name.to_string()))?)
-                .clone();
-
-                let name = Name {
-                    namespace: namespace.namespace,
-                    name,
-                };
-
-                namespaces.push(namespace_declarations.clone());
-
-                let content = Self::content_from_xml(namespaces, content)?;
-
-                namespaces.pop();
-
-                return Ok(Element {
-                    name,
-                    attributes,
-                    content,
-                });
+                xml_name = s_tag.name;
+                xml_attributes = s_tag.attributes;
+                xml_content = Some(content);
+                xml_e_name = Some(e_tag.name);
             }
         }
+
+        // namespace declarations on element
+
+        let mut element_namespace_declarations = HashSet::new();
+        for (prefix, namespace) in xml_attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
+            if let xml::Attribute::NamespaceDeclaration { ns_name, value } = attribute {
+                Some((ns_name, value))
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        }) {
+            let prefix = match prefix {
+                xml::NSAttName::PrefixedAttName(prefixed_att_name) => {
+                    Some(prefixed_att_name.to_string())
+                }
+                xml::NSAttName::DefaultAttName => None,
+            };
+            let namespace = NamespaceDeclaration {
+                prefix,
+                namespace: namespace.process()?,
+            };
+            if !element_namespace_declarations.insert(namespace.clone()) {
+                return Err(Error::DuplicateNameSpaceDeclaration(namespace));
+            }
+        }
+
+        // all namespaces available in the element scope (from both parent elements and element itself)
+        let namespace_declarations_stack: Vec<&NamespaceDeclaration> = namespace_declarations
+            .iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .chain(element_namespace_declarations.iter())
+            .collect();
+
+        // element name and default attribute namespace
+
+        let element_namespace_declaration;
+        let element_local_name = xml_name.local_part().to_string();
+
+        match xml_name.prefix() {
+            Some(prefix) => {
+                element_namespace_declaration = namespace_declarations_stack
+                    .iter()
+                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix.as_deref() == Some(prefix));
+            }
+            None => {
+                element_namespace_declaration = namespace_declarations_stack
+                    .iter()
+                    .rfind(|namespace| namespace.prefix == None);
+            }
+        }
+
+        let element_default_namespace = element_namespace_declaration
+            .ok_or_else(|| Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(xml_name.to_string()))?
+            .namespace
+            .clone();
+
+        let element_name = Name {
+            namespace: element_default_namespace,
+            local_name: element_local_name,
+        };
+
+        // attributes
+
+        let mut attributes = HashMap::new();
+        for (q_name, value) in xml_attributes.iter().filter_map(|attribute| {
+            if let xml::Attribute::Attribute { name, value } = attribute {
+                Some((name, value))
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        }) {
+            let attribute_namespace_declaration;
+            let attribute_local_name = q_name.local_part().to_string();
+            match q_name.prefix() {
+                Some(prefix) => {
+                    attribute_namespace_declaration =
+                        namespace_declarations_stack
+                            .iter()
+                            .rfind(|namespace_declaration| {
+                                namespace_declaration.prefix.as_deref() == Some(prefix)
+                            });
+                }
+                None => attribute_namespace_declaration = element_namespace_declaration,
+            }
+            if let Some(namespace_declaration) = attribute_namespace_declaration {
+                let name = Name {
+                    namespace: namespace_declaration.namespace.clone(),
+                    local_name: attribute_local_name,
+                };
+                let value = value.process()?;
+                // check for duplicate attribute
+                if let Some(_value) = attributes.insert(name, value) {
+                    return Err(Error::DuplicateAttribute(q_name.to_string()));
+                }
+            } else {
+                return Err(Error::UnqualifiedNamespace(q_name.to_string()));
+            }
+        }
+
+        let content;
+        if let Some(xml_content) = xml_content {
+            namespace_declarations.push(element_namespace_declarations.clone());
+
+            content = Self::content_from_xml(namespace_declarations, xml_content)?;
+
+            namespace_declarations.pop();
+        } else {
+            content = Vec::new();
+        }
+
+        return Ok(Element {
+            name: element_name,
+            namespace_declarations: element_namespace_declarations,
+            attributes,
+            content,
+        });
     }
 
     fn content_from_xml(
         namespaces: &mut Vec<HashSet<NamespaceDeclaration>>,
-        element: xml::Content,
+        xml_content: xml::Content,
     ) -> Result<Vec<Content>> {
         let mut content = Vec::new();
-        let mut text = element.char_data.map(|str| String::from(*str));
-        for (content_item, char_data) in element.content {
+        let mut text = xml_content.char_data.map(|str| String::from(*str));
+        for (content_item, char_data) in xml_content.content {
             match content_item {
                 xml::ContentItem::Element(element) => {
                     text.map(|text| content.push(Content::Text(text)));