RE: Namespace prefixes for functions and operators considered confusing

The functions in XPath 1.0/XSLT 1.0 already use the notion of namespaces
for scoping function libraries. Since we need such a mechanism and need
to be backwards compatible with XPath 1.0/XSLT 1.0, there is really no
other choice. The reason that op: is specially handled is because these
functions are not accessible and are only used for definitional use.

Best regards
Michael

> -----Original Message-----
> From: public-qt-comments-request@w3.org [mailto:public-qt-comments-
> request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Elliotte Harold
> Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 12:07 PM
> To: public-qt-comments@w3.org
> Subject: Namespace prefixes for functions and operators considered
> confusing
> 
> 
> The whole "fn: is a function and is mapped to
> |http://www.w3.org/2003/11/xpath-functions| except when you actually
use
> it (in which case no prefix is used), and op: looks like a namespace
> prefix but really isn't" is just a mess. It's a symptom of the
> "everything must have a namespace and a URI" disease that has infected
> the W3C for the last few years. Removing the operators namespace URI
in
> this draft has just made this more obvious. This whole namespace mess
is
> horribly confusing.
> 
> Let's face reality: None of the functions or operators are in any
> namespace. The whole idea of putting these in a namespace does not
jibe
> with the namespaces spec. Nothing is gained by claiming these
functions
> and operators are in a namespace. Talking about the namespace of an
> XQuery function has no more meaning than talking aobut the current
king
> of France or the set of triangles with four sides.
> 
> The XQuery functions and operators spec will bemuch clearer if it does
> not attempt to place any functions or operators in any namespace. If
you
> wish to use the syntax fn: and op: to distinguish functions from
> operators, that's OK. Alternately you could pick a different delimiter
> that does not remind anyone of namespace prefixes. For example, fn#
and
> op#. However, fn: and op: should not be namespace prefixes, and in
> reality they never really were.
> 
> --
> Elliotte Rusty Harold
>

Received on Sunday, 16 November 2003 02:26:04 UTC