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mohamedkhallouq
GitHub Repository: mohamedkhallouq/content
 Path: blob/main/files/en-us/web/xpath/index.md
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---
title: XPath
slug: Web/XPath
---
  1. XSLT
  2. EXSLT
  3. XPath
  4. Guides
    1. Comparison of CSS Selectors and XPath
    2. Introduction to using XPath in JavaScript
    3. XPath snippets
  5. XPath Axes{{ListSubpagesForSidebar("/en-US/docs/Web/XPath/Axes")}}
  6. XPath Functions{{ListSubpagesForSidebar("/en-US/docs/Web/XPath/Functions")}}

XPath stands for XML Path Language. It uses a non-XML syntax to provide a flexible way of addressing (pointing to) different parts of an XML document. It can also be used to test addressed nodes within a document to determine whether they match a pattern or not.

XPath is mainly used in XSLT, but can also be used as a much more powerful way of navigating through the DOM of any XML-like language document using {{DOMxRef("XPathExpression")}}, such as HTML and SVG, instead of relying on the {{DOMxRef("Document.getElementById()")}} or {{DOMxRef("Document.querySelectorAll()")}} methods, the {{DOMxRef("Node.childNodes")}} properties, and other DOM Core features.

XPath uses a path notation (as in URLs) for navigating through the hierarchical structure of an XML document. It uses a non-XML syntax so that it can be used in URIs and XML attribute values.

Note: Support for XPath varies widely; it's supported reasonably well in Firefox (although there are no plans to improve support further), while other browsers implement it to a lesser extent, if at all. If you need a polyfill, you may consider js-xpath or wicked-good-xpath.

Documentation

  • Introduction to using XPath in JavaScript

    • : Describes a non-XSLT use of XPath.

  • XPath:Axes

    • : List and definition of the axes defined in the XPath specification. Axes are used to describe the relationships between nodes.

  • XPath:Functions

    • : List and description of the core XPath functions and XSLT-specific additions to XPath.

  • Transforming XML with XSLT

    • : XSLT uses XPath to address code segments in an XML document that it wishes to transform.

  • XPath snippets

    • : These are JavaScript utility functions, that can be used in your own code, based on DOM Level 3 XPath APIs.

  • What is XSLT?

    • : This extensive introduction to XSLT and XPath assumes no prior knowledge of the technologies, and guides the reader through background, context, structure, concepts, and introductory terminology.

Tools