With the new growing world of digitalization, where almost every work can be done on your pc is only possible due to all the applications and software. This software is too easy to work with. Just a few clicks, and we are all done. But many of us don’t know that the working of each button is associated with a code for execution which is written using programming languages.
There are many languages available for the execution and application with different properties. Each language has its own importance and preferred applications. Some are good with some request and other works better for other different requests. The properties of XQuery and XPath are discussed below.
XQuery vs XPath
The main difference which differentiates the programming languages XQuery and XPath is based on the type of language they are. XQuery is a programming language that is used as a functional programming language, and the application of the language is that it is used for grouping the query of XML data whereas XPath is a programming language which is based on path language criterion and its application is to select the nodes out of an XML document file with the help of queries.
XQuery is a language that is classified and eligible for in two categories. The first of them is a query language, i.e., that runs using queries, and the other is a functional programming language. It is used to transform the collected data, which can be present in both forms are structured and unstructured forms of data. The data is mostly available in the form of XML or text. It is available with some extensions which belong to other data formats and are vendor-specific extensions.
XPath is also a programming language that supports query language. It is preferred when the selection of nodes is required out of an XML document. The other application of this language is the manipulation or computation of values which can be numbers, Booleans, or strings. They all belong to the content of an XML Document.
Comparison Table Between XQuery and XPath
| Parameters of Comparison | XQuery | XPath |
| Type of language | XQuery is a functional programming language and in addition, it is also a query language. | XPath is a language that comes in the category of XML path language. |
| Applications | XQuery is preferred to use for the extraction and also manipulation of the data. | Application for XPath is to compute the values of string, numbers, or Boolean types into another document of XML. |
| Representation | XQuery is represented with the help of a tree model with seven nodes. The names of nodes are comments, text nodes, document nodes, attributes, namespaces, elements, and instructions. | XPath is also represented with the help of tree structure and navigation is possible using different nodes. |
| Support | XQuery programming language support XPath and some other extended relational models. | XPath, after so long is still struck being a component of the query language. |
| Basic idea | XQuery language is useful in creating the syntax of new XML documents. | XPath was developed with the idea for the definition of common syntax and behavior models for XPointer and XSLT. |
What is XQuery?
XQuery is a language that is classified and eligible for in two categories. The first of them is a query language, i.e., that runs using queries, and the other is a functional programming language. It is used for the purpose of transforming the collected data, which can be present in both the forms that are structured and unstructured form of data. The data is mostly available in the form of XML or text. It is available with some extensions which belong to other data formats and are vendor-specific extensions.
XQuery language is useful in creating the syntax of new XML documents. XQuery programming language support XPath and some other extended relational models.
XQuery is represented with the help of a tree model with seven nodes. The names of nodes are comments, text nodes, document nodes, attributes, namespaces, elements, and instructions. XQuery is preferred to use for the extraction and also manipulation of the data. XQuery is one of the best application-based languages to work with. This language is developed under the XML group of queries that belongs to W3C. It is one of the most popular tools worldwide.
What is XPath?
XPath is also a programming language that supports query language. It is preferred when the selection of nodes is required out of an XML document. The other application of this language is the manipulation or computation of values which can be numbers, Booleans, or strings. They all belong to the content of an XML Document. XPath was defined by the worldwide organization “World wide web Consortium.” XPath is also represented with the help of tree structure, and navigation is possible using different nodes.
The expression of an XPath used for navigation is also sometimes referred to as “an XPath.” XPath is also represented with the help of tree structure, and navigation is possible using different nodes.
XPath, after so long, is still struct to be a component of the query language. XPath was developed with the idea for the definition of common syntax and behavior models for XPointer and XSLT. It is still the way it was when it got launched, so that is why it retains its original concept. The developers of Xpath belong to the W3C. It is also an important and core component of the XSLT standard.
Main Differences Between XQuery and XPath
- XQuery is a programming language that is used as a functional programming language, and the application of the language is that it is used for the purpose of grouping the query of XML data, whereas XPath is a programming language that is based on path language criterion and its application is to select the nodes out of an XML document file with the help of queries.
- XQuery is preferred to use for the extraction and also manipulation of the data. The data can be from XML documents or relational databases. Sometimes it can be from ms office documents when it supports it, whereas Application for XPath is to computes the values of string, numbers, or Boolean types into the other documents of XML.
- XQuery is represented with the help of a tree model with seven nodes. The names of nodes are comments, text nodes, document nodes, attributes, namespaces, elements, and instructions, whereas XPath is also represented with the help of tree structure, and navigation is possible using different nodes.
- XQuery programming language supports XPath and some other extended relational models, whereas XPath, after so long, is still struct be a component of the query language.
- XQuery language is useful in creating the syntax of new XML documents, whereas XPath was developed with the idea for the definition of common syntax and behavior model for XPointer and XSLT.
Conclusion
Both languages have their own pros and cons, which make them important according to their usage and applications. Some support one set of features, whereas other support the other one. No one can be compared to know which is better. Most of the basic functionality can be done using both, but the other greater qualities are quite in considerations. Sometimes only one feature can make the game for the desired output or can ruin the performance of the developer. So, before using any technology, it’s a must to know the concepts and applications of that certain technology.
References
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/1247480.1247517
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=R780l9ETyw8C&oi=fnd&pg=PA252&dq=Difference+Between+XQuery+and+XPath+(With+Table)&ots=XJDbVXEUXl&sig=s_FulfRqkTzA3WScjbAS2I57ds8
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-72909-9_40
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1647855/
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/11545163_1