XML Path Language (XPath)

Level: Intermediate

Contributors: W3C

06 Feb 2007
Updated 25 Apr 2007

XML Path Language (XPath), one of the most successful XML technologies, is a syntax and data model for addressing parts of an XML document. Learn more about this XML standard, which includes some features of a general-purpose expression language.

XML Path Language (XPath) Version 1.0 [W3C Recommendation] is a syntax and a data model for addressing parts of an XML document. It includes some features of a general-purpose expression language and is designed to be a little language that can be used for application-neutral processing within XML systems. For example, you could use XPath to locate all the section-title elements in a document.

XPath is probably the most successful XML technology, besides XML 1.0 itself. It is the core of Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT), the successful XML transformation language, and it is provided for in almost every platform for XML processing. XPath 2.0 [in development] is being developed in tandem with XQuery and adds many new features and an expanded library of functions.

Resources

• Almost every introduction to XSLT covers XPath as well, but for a more focused look, follow Bertrand Portier's tutorial to Get started with XPath (developerWorks, May 2004).
  
  
• If you need to learn XPath 2.0, a good place to start is Benoit Marchal's Working XML: Get started with XPath 2.0 (developerWorks, May 2006).
  
  
• The ZVON XPath tutorial is example-driven.
  
  
• Chapter 9: XPath from XML in a Nutshell by Elliotte Rusty Harold and W. Scott Means is a more prosaic introduction (O'Reilly Media, 2001).
  
  
• Read about other XML standards: Index of XML standards.
  
  
• Participate in any of several XML-centered forums: XML zone discussion forums.
  
  
• Get involved in the developerWorks community: developerWorks blogs
  
  
• Find out how you can become an IBM-Certified Developer in XML and related technologies at IBM XML certification.
  
  
• See the developerWorks XML Zone for a wide range of technical articles and tips, tutorials, standards, and IBM Redbooks at XML technical library.
  
  
• Stay current with technology in these sessions: developerWorks technical events and webcasts.
  
  
• Build your next development project with trial software available for download directly from developerWorks: IBM trial software
  

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