XPath

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 XPathExpression, such as HTML and SVG, instead of relying on the Document.getElementById() or Document.querySelectorAll() methods, the 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.

Guides

Introduction to using XPath in JavaScript

Describes a non-XSLT use of XPath.

XPath snippets

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

Reference

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.

See also