CR: XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1

XML Path Language (XPath) 3.1

https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/CR-xpath-31-20161213/

feedback due by: 2017-01-10

Abstract


XPath 3.1 is an expression language that allows the processing of values conforming to the data model defined in [XQuery and XPath Data Model (XDM) 3.1]. The name of the language derives from its most distinctive feature, the path expression, which provides a means of hierarchic addressing of the nodes in an XML tree. As well as modeling the tree structure of XML, the data model also includes atomic values, function items, and sequences. This version of XPath supports JSON as well as XML, adding maps and arrays to the data model and supporting them with new expressions in the language and new functions in [XQuery and XPath Functions and Operators 3.1]. These are the most important new features in XPath 3.1: 3.11.1 Maps. 3.11.2 Arrays.

XPath 3.1 is a superset of [XML Path Language (XPath) Version 3.0]. A detailed list of changes made since XPath 3.0 can be found in I Change Log.

Status of the Document


This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at https://www.w3.org/TR/.

This document is governed by the 1 September 2015 W3C Process Document.

W3C publishes a Candidate Recommendation, as described in the Process Document, to indicate that the document is believed to be stable and to encourage implementation by the developer community.

This document was published by the XML Query Working Group and the XSLT Working Group, each of which is part of the XML Activity. It will remain a Candidate Recommendation until at least 10 January 2017. The groups expect to advance this specification to Recommendation Status.

This document will be considered ready for transition to Proposed Recommendation at the same time that the XQuery 3.1 specification is ready for transition to Proposed Recommendation.

Once the entrance criteria for Proposed Recommendation have been achieved, the Director will be requested to advance this document to Proposed Recommendation status. Working closely with the developer community, we expect to show evidence of implementations by approximately 10 January 2017.

This Candidate Recommendation specifies XPath version 3.1, a fully compatible extension of XPath version 3.0.

This specification is designed to be referenced normatively from other specifications defining a host language for it; it is not intended to be implemented outside a host language. The implementability of this specification has been tested in the context of its normative inclusion in host languages defined by the XQuery 3.1 and XSLT 3.0 (expected in 2017) specifications; see the XQuery 3.1 implementation report (and, in the future, the WGs expect that there will also be an XSLT 3.0 implementation report) for details.

This document is a revised Candidate Recommendation and incorporates changes made against the Candidate Recommendation of 17 December 2015 as a result of review feedback. Changes to this document since the previous Candidate Recommendation are detailed in I Change Log.

Please report errors in this document using W3C's public Bugzilla system (instructions can be found at https://www.w3.org/XML/2005/04/qt-bugzilla). If access to that system is not feasible, you may send your comments to the W3C XSLT/XPath/XQuery public comments mailing list, public-qt-comments@w3.org. It will be very helpful if you include the string “[XPath31]” in the subject line of your report, whether made in Bugzilla or in email. Please use multiple Bugzilla entries (or, if necessary, multiple email messages) if you have more than one comment to make. Archives of the comments and responses are available at https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-qt-comments/.

Publication as a Candidate Recommendation does not imply endorsement by the W3C Membership. This is a draft document and may be updated, replaced or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to cite this document as other than work in progress.

This document was produced by groups operating under the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures (XML Query Working Group) and a public list of any patent disclosures (XSLT Working Group) made in connection with the deliverables of each group; these pages also include instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.