A method and apparatus for loading an XML document into memory is provided. A client loads one or more array elements into a first partition of an array that is maintained in memory. Each array element represents an XML element of an XML document. Upon determining that an amount of data maintained in the first partition exceeds a first threshold, the client subsequently loads array elements into a new partition of the array. Upon determining that an amount of data maintained in the memory of the client exceeds a second threshold, the array elements of the least recently used partition are persistently stored in a database without persistently storing the entire XML document. When the last XML element of the XML document is loaded into a partition of the array, that partition is persistently stored in the database, thereby causing the entire XML document to be stored in the database.