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XML XQuery vs XSLT

We will compare XQuery vs XSLT and examine how they differ in syntax, example, output, explanation, use, important points, and summary.

XQuery Syntax

XQuery is a query and functional programming language designed to manipulate XML data. The syntax of XQuery is similar to SQL and the C programming language. Here is an example of the syntax of an XQuery expression:

for $book in doc("books.xml")/bookstore/book
where $book/price>30 
order by $book/title 
return $book/title

XSLT Syntax

XSLT is a transformational language designed to transform XML data into different formats. The syntax of XSLT is based on the template rule, which consists of a pattern and an action. Here is an example of the syntax of an XSLT template rule:

<xsl: template match="/">
  <html>
  <body>
    <xsl: apply-templates />
  </body>
  </html>
</xsl:template>

XQuery Example

Here is an example of an XQuery expression that retrieves all the titles of books whose price is greater than 30:

for $book in doc("books.xml")/bookstore/book
where $book/price>30 
return $book/title

XSLT Example

Here is an example of an XSLT transformation that transforms an XML document into an HTML document:

<xsl:template match="/">
  <html>
  <body>
    <h2>My CD Collection</h2>
    <table>
      <xsl:for-each select="catalog/cd">
        <tr>
          <td>
            <xsl:value-of select="title"/>
          </td>
          <td>
            <xsl:value-of select="artist"/>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </table>
  </body>
  </html>
</xsl:template>

XQuery Output

The output of an XQuery expression is typically an XML document or a sequence of items. In the example above, the output is a sequence of book titles.

XSLT Output

The output of an XSLT transformation is typically an XML document or an HTML document. In the example above, the output is an HTML table that displays the title and artist of each item in a CD catalog.

XQuery Explanation

XQuery is a query language that allows users to retrieve and manipulate information stored in XML documents. It is designed to be simple, expressive, and powerful. XQuery achieves this by providing a rich set of features, such as filtering, sorting, and grouping data, as well as support for functions, variables, and user-defined types.

XSLT Explanation

XSLT is a transformational language that allows users to transform XML documents into different formats. It is designed to be flexible, extensible, and powerful. XSLT achieves this by providing a set of template rules that specify how to transform an input document into an output document. Users can customize these rules to meet their specific needs.

XQuery Use

XQuery is used primarily for querying and manipulating XML data. It is often used in conjunction with other XML-related technologies, such as XML Schema, XPath, and XSLT. XQuery is widely used in industries such as finance, healthcare, government, and education.

XSLT Use

XSLT is used primarily for transforming XML data into different formats. It is often used in conjunction with other XML-related technologies, such as XQuery, XPath, and XML Schema. XSLT is widely used in industries such as publishing, document management, and e-commerce.

XQuery Important Points

  • XQuery is a query and functional programming language for manipulating XML data.
  • XQuery expressions consist of a sequence of function calls, variables, constants, operators, and nodes.
  • XQuery provides a powerful set of features, such as filtering, sorting, grouping, and joining data.
  • XQuery is widely used in industries such as finance, healthcare, and government.

XSLT Important Points

  • XSLT is a transformational language for transforming XML data into different formats.
  • XSLT templates consist of pattern and action combinations, which define how to transform an input document into an output document.
  • XSLT provides powerful features, such as conditional processing, looping, and variable scoping.
  • XSLT is widely used in industries such as publishing, document management, and e-commerce.

Summary

In this tutorial, we compared XQuery vs XSLT and examined how they differ in syntax, example, output, explanation, use, important points, and summary. XQuery is a query and functional programming language for manipulating XML data, while XSLT is a transformational language for transforming XML data into different formats. Each language has its own strengths and use cases, and understanding the differences between them can help you choose the right tool for the job.

XQuery vs XPathEnvironment Setup
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