xpath query conditional test comparing 2 numeric values

Question

can someone explain to me why this condition return false in this following xpath query

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<a>ha</a>

xpath query

count(//a) return 1.

but

test="(count(//a) > 0)" return false?

Thank you

"test="(count(//a) > 0)" return false" How did you arrive at this conclusion? — michael.hor257k
– michael.hor257k, Commented Jan 19, 2015 at 20:49
You are right. I think putting test="whatever" into xpath query editor will always return false — timpham
– timpham, Commented Jan 19, 2015 at 21:29
test="whatever" is not an XPath expression; it's an attribute of an XSLT instruction, e.g. <xsl:if test="count(//a) > 0">Yes</xsl:if>. — michael.hor257k
– michael.hor257k, Commented Jan 19, 2015 at 22:15

Michael Kay · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-19 22:24:21Z

2

In the query

test="(count(//a) > 0)"

test refers to a child element of the document node called "test". If there is no such element (which is the case here), then you are comparing an empty set to the string "count(//a) > 0". Comparing an empty set to anything returns false.

answered Jan 19, 2015 at 22:24

Michael Kay

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Comments

Steve Wellens · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-19 20:43:00Z

1

Maybe you don't need the "" marks.

From the free tool XPathBuilder:

enter image description here

http://www.bubasoft.net/product/xpath-builder/

answered Jan 19, 2015 at 20:43

Steve Wellens

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