Extract value of attribute node via XPath

Extracting the Value of an Attribute Node via XPath

Have you ever come across a situation where you needed to extract the value of an attribute node using XPath? It may seem like a complex problem, but fear not! In this blog post, we will address this common issue and provide you with easy solutions. By the end of this post, you'll be able to extract attribute values like a pro! 🔍💪

Understanding the Problem

Let's start by understanding the problem at hand. Imagine you have an XML file with a structure similar to the one provided above. You want to extract the values of the name attribute from all the child elements under a specific Parent element.

For instance, using the XPath string mentioned in the context:

//Parent[@id='1']/Children/child[@name]

You would expect to get the following output:

Child_2
Child_4
Child_1
Child_3

Solution 1: Using the text() Function

One way to extract the attribute value is by using the text() function in XPath. The modified XPath string would look like this:

//Parent[@id='1']/Children/child[@name]/text()

By appending the /text() portion to the end of the XPath expression, you'll extract the text content of the selected element as shown in the desired output.

Solution 2: Using the @ Symbol

Alternatively, you can make use of the @ symbol to directly access the attribute value within the XPath expression. Here's how the updated XPath string would look:

//Parent[@id='1']/Children/child[@name]/@name

By adding /@name at the end of the XPath expression, you can directly extract the value of the name attribute without requiring the text() function.

Engage with Us!

Now that you have learned two easy solutions for extracting attribute values using XPath, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Share your experiences, thoughts, or any additional tips in the comments below. Let's dive into the world of XPath together! 🌐💬

So go ahead, give it a try, and let us know how it works for you! Happy XPathing! 🎉🔎

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