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Subjects

JAVASCRIPTHTMLCSSPYTHONSQLJAVACPPCSHARPPHPTYPESCRIPTCRUBYGOSWIFTKOTLINRUSTRBASHSCALAOBJECTIVE-CDARTPERLLUAMATLABXMLJSONMARKDOWNASSEMBLYLATEXYAMLSOLIDITYBLOCKCHAIN

Topics

XML Basics

Introduction to XMLXML SyntaxXML ElementsXML AttributesXML NamespacesXML CommentsXML CDATA SectionsXML White Space HandlingXML Encoding

XML Document Structure

XML PrologXML Root ElementXML Child ElementsXML Sibling ElementsXML Document TreeXML Well-formednessXML Validity

XML DTD

XML DTD IntroductionXML DTD InternalXML DTD ExternalXML DTD ElementsXML DTD AttributesXML DTD EntitiesXML DTD Notations

XML Schema

XML Schema IntroductionXML Schema Simple TypesXML Schema Complex TypesXML Schema ElementsXML Schema AttributesXML Schema RestrictionsXML Schema FacetsXML Schema Indicators

XML Parsing

XML DOM ParsingXML SAX ParsingXML StAX ParsingXML Pull ParsingXML Parser Validation

XML Transformation

XSLT IntroductionXSLT StylesheetsXSLT TemplatesXSLT ElementsXSLT FunctionsXSLT Sorting and GroupingXPath Expressions in XSLT

XML APIs and Libraries

XML DOM APIXML SAX APIXML JAXPXML JAXBXML XQuery

XML Security

XML EncryptionXML Digital SignaturesXML Security Best Practices

XML in Web Development

XML and AJAXXML and REST APIsXML and SOAP Web ServicesXML RSS FeedsXML Sitemaps

XML Best Practices

XML Naming ConventionsXML Performance OptimizationXML VersioningXML DocumentationXML Error Handling

Advanced XML Concepts

XML Namespaces AdvancedXML XIncludeXML XLinkXML XPointerXML Catalogs

XSLT Functions in XML

XSLT functions are powerful tools that enhance the capabilities of XML transformations. They allow developers to manipulate data, perform calculations, and add logic to their stylesheets.

Understanding XSLT Functions

XSLT functions are pre-defined or custom operations that can be called within XSLT Stylesheets. They accept input parameters and return values, enabling complex data processing during XML transformations.

Types of XSLT Functions

  1. Built-in Functions: Provided by the XSLT processor
  2. Custom Functions: Defined by the developer using <xsl:function>

Common Built-in XSLT Functions

XSLT provides numerous built-in functions for various operations. Here are some frequently used ones:

  • string(): Converts a value to a string
  • number(): Converts a value to a number
  • concat(): Concatenates multiple strings
  • substring(): Extracts a portion of a string
  • count(): Counts the number of nodes in a node-set

Example: Using Built-in Functions

<xsl:value-of select="concat('Hello, ', string(name), '!')" />
<xsl:value-of select="count(//item)" />

Creating Custom XSLT Functions

Custom functions allow developers to encapsulate reusable logic. They are defined using the <xsl:function> element and can be called like built-in functions.

Example: Defining and Using a Custom Function

<xsl:function name="my:double">
  <xsl:param name="value" />
  <xsl:sequence select="$value * 2" />
</xsl:function>

<xsl:value-of select="my:double(5)" />

Best Practices for XSLT Functions

  • Use meaningful function names for clarity
  • Document custom functions with comments
  • Avoid excessive nesting of function calls
  • Leverage built-in functions when possible for better performance
  • Test functions thoroughly with various inputs

XSLT Functions and XPath

XSLT functions work seamlessly with XPath Expressions in XSLT. This integration allows for powerful data selection and manipulation within stylesheets.

Example: Combining XSLT Functions with XPath

<xsl:value-of select="count(//book[contains(title, 'XML')])" />

Conclusion

XSLT functions are essential for creating dynamic and flexible XML transformations. By mastering both built-in and custom functions, developers can significantly enhance their XSLT capabilities and create more efficient stylesheets.

For more advanced topics, explore XSLT Sorting and Grouping and XML Performance Optimization.