Data Model: 4 - Nodes (and "root nodes")

In 4 of Data Model mention is made of fragments which, it is stated, don't 
have a document node as "root node".

Which other node types can be a "root node"? It isn't stated. Can all 6 other 
node kinds be a "root node"? If so it should be stated, if not then that too 
should be made clear.

Can, as an edge case, a "tree" have a "root item" i.e. an atomic value? Not 
much of a tree, I admit. :)

In a Note in 4.2.1 it is stated that document nodes and XPath 1.0 root nodes 
are essentially identical. It seems a little perverse, to me at least, to use 
the term "root node" in XPath 2.0 to contrast with "document node" (as in 4) 
while recognising that a document node and an XPath 1.0 root node are very 
similar.

As a final point re 4, the term "root" (unqualified) and the term "root node" 
are both used in the same section. Are they synonymous? Or is some 
distinction intended?

Andrew Watt

Received on Tuesday, 6 May 2003 13:54:43 UTC